Liverpool, Man United fans protest against American owners

Fans of Liverpool and Manchester United called for removal of ir clubs' American owners during protests outside ir stiums prompted by ill-fated European Super League project on Saturday.

“£ugh is £ugh FSG Out” and “Henry, You have blood on your hands,” were words on some of banners held up by Liverpool supporters outside Anfield before team drew with Newcastle 1-1 in English Premier League.

That's a reference to Fenway Sports Group and principal owner John Henry, who was one of instigators of controversial breakaway league featuring some of Europe's elite clubs which was aborted on Tuesday — two days after it was launched.

While protests on Anfield Ro were muted — re were an estimated 150 fans re ahe of a match played in an empty stium because of pandemic — more than a thousand United fans were estimated to have gared on concourse outside club's Old Trafford stium to protest against Glazer family, which has owned 20-time English champion since a debt-leverd buyout in 2005.

“We want Glazers out,” chanted United fans, who h banners and scarves with “Glazers Out” on m. Yellow and green-colored smoke bombs were let off — colors synymous with anti-Glazer protest movement at start of ownership's tenure.

Local newspaper Manchester Evening News reported re was a limited police presence and that protest was peaceful.

Six English clubs were among 12 founding members of Super League, and ir owners are targets of criticism that has been fierce this week, accusing m of attempting to destroy structures of English game.

Several hundred Arsenal fans gared outside Emirates Stium on Friday ahe of its Premier League game against Everton to protest against ir club's American ownership.

Chelsea fans have protested against ir club's Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, too.

Liverpool fans outside Anfield on Saturday greeted players and manment with warm applause as team bus arrived at stium for Newcastle game.

That highlighted separation supporters were making between owners of England's so-called “Big Six” clubs who were behind Super League, and rest of club.

“ part I have struggled with is seeing this club, a place I love and am w proud to call my home, trashed — and done so in a manner which suggests redemption is possible. That I can’t take," Liverpool manr Jurgen Klopp said in his tes in matchday program.

“It was right to take apart concept and it was fair to criticize it, along with those who came up with it and also how it was presented. All legitimate in my view. anger and disappointment was justified but re were times when distinction between ‘club’ and this decision (and yes, those responsible for it) were too quickly blurred into one."

A statement published late Friday by Chelsea expressed “regret” at members of its hierarchy getting involved in Super League proposals, though re was apology.

It promised to involve supporters in any future discussions about “new mechanisms or structures” and to “safeguard fan representation in club's work.”

“ club does ask, however, that this dialogue is conducted in a respectful way,” Chelsea statement said. “ abuse which some club representatives have been target of over past few days is t acceptable.”