Man Utd visit to Fulham to be hit with supporter protests - but not by Red Devils fans

Manchester United visit Fulham in this weekend's early Saturday kick-off in the Premier League and the meeting is set to be hit by supporter protests but, perhaps surprisingly, not from the Red Devils camp.

A 3-0 home defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night followed a loss to the same scoreline at Old Trafford against Manchester City last weekend as unrest among Red Devils fans continues to grow. The fan base has also seen their side beaten by Brighton, Crystal Palace and FC Copenhagen at the Theatre of Dreams since the start of the season.

Those results coupled with the frustrating takeover circus being conducted by the Glazers and questions over manager Erik ten Hag's player management in the wake of Jadon Sancho's banishment has left Manchester United in somewhat of a crisis mode - although 'fighter' Ten Hag is determined to steer his side back on track.

With so much going on around Manchester United, many may think that any protest at Craven Cottage tomorrow would be coming from the away fans camp.

Fulham supporters this year are protesting the cost of tickets at the London club with the Cottagers offering some of the most expensive tickets in the Premier League. The Fulham Supporters Trust claims that the majority of tickets in the Hammersmith End had risen 40% from 2019 to a price of £77 with standard tickets in the Johnny Haynes Stand rising to a huge £160.

The group has issued a number of statements and is in conversation with the club on the matter. This weekend Fulham supporters will march through Bishops Park to Craven Cottage before the match to show their frustration at the price of following their club.

Fans are also expected to hold up a sea of yellow cards during the match which read 'please don't price us out'. The action will take place in the 18th minute against Manchester United, to 'represent the typical 18% price increase and give a clear message that we need an #AffordableFulham'.

Statement from Fulham Supporters Trust on Man Utd fixture protest

A lengthy statement from the Fulham Supporters Trust said: "We say “enough”. We understand the challenges of running a football club and we appreciate the vast sums that have been committed by the Club’s owners over a decade of losses. We agree with financial sustainability, but the shortfalls can’t be made up by a ticket policy that prices out our traditional fan base in favour of short-term attendees who are prepared to pay big money for a one-off experience and never come back.

"This is a point the Fulham Supporters’ Trust has made time and again over recent years. Regrettably, despite football claiming it is listening to fans as it seeks to avoid a regulator, we are not being heard by the senior management at Fulham. It is time to turn up the volume.

"We’re not looking for the owners to commit even more of their own money, but we are asking for an overhaul of the business model to make sure that responsibility for the shortfall isn’t targeted at those who can least afford it. In a football world where TV pumps in billions, players are paid in six figures per week, transfer fees are in the tens of millions and agents take a huge cut for themselves, there are better ways to balance the books than to seek to make a few tens of thousands from fans who earn normal wages in the real world.

"For our game against Manchester United, the Fulham Supporters’ Trust will join forces with the Fulham Lillies and a large number of Fulham media outlets to demonstrate to senior club management that Fulham fans are united against increasingly unaffordable ticket prices that threaten the family-friendly nature of our club. The fan media outlets support this action, have endorsed this statement and will publicise it to the wider fanbase.

"We call on all Fulham fans to join us in delivering a clear, peaceful but loud message that these prices must be brought down and that ticketing policy must focus on ensuring real Fulham fans can afford both to attend and to encourage the next generation to attend. You may be able to afford your season ticket this year, but what about next? What about when you want to bring family members? How is the next generation going to be able to afford to fall in love with Fulham?"