How Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken the heat off the most hated owners in football - and why they are not going anywhere, writes MIKE KEEGAN
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Just over 12 months ago Manchester United, the Manchester United, lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth. Had it not been for a ludicrous VAR decision, it would have been 4-0. Through the dark winter Manchester afternoon, flecks of green and gold could be seen among the 70,000 home fans who – as they always do – filled Old Trafford. The colours of founders Newton Heath, worn in protest at the most unpopular owners in football.
![[Had it not been for a ludicrous VAR decision, it would have been a 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/11/93350779-14213551-image-a-2_1734695286491.jpg)
Throughout yet another reminder of how far one of the giants had fallen (they had already lost at home to Brighton and Crystal Palace) chants against the despised Americans were frequent. From the frank: 'We want Glazers out' to the more graphic 'Build a bonfire', animosity towards the stay-away family, who bought the club in the first deal of the century in 2005, loaded it with debt and used it as a personal ATM for close to two decades before milking it again in the second deal of the century earlier this year, was loud and clear.
![[Green and gold are often worn in protest at the most unpopular owners in football]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/11/93350811-14213551-image-a-4_1734695306530.jpg)
After the game Gary Neville spoke for many of them. 'It's down to the Glazers,' he said, outlining their continued 'ultimate failure'. Earlier last year there had been protest marches, a constant theme throughout the cash draining, dividend swiping era of misery.
![[After the game Gary Neville spoke for many of them. 'It's down to the Glazers,' he said]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/11/93350837-14213551-image-a-5_1734695332870.jpg)
In a loss to Bournemouth last year chants against the despised Glazers were frequent. Had it not been for a ludicrous VAR decision, it would have been a 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford. Green and gold are often worn in protest at the most unpopular owners in football.
![[In 2021, United's home match with Liverpool was called off when 200 fans broke into the ground in the wake of the collapsed European Super League plans]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/11/93350863-14213551-image-a-6_1734695343073.jpg)
