Manchester United supporters staged a preplanned protest against the club's ownership during Tuesday's Champions League match against Roma at Old Trafford, throwing tennis balls onto the pitch before watching their team rally from two goals down to claim a 3-2 victory.
The demonstration, which had been flagged on social media earlier in the day, was timed to the 21st minute to mark 21 years of ownership by the Glazer family. In the end, only a small number of balls were thrown from the Stretford End, causing a brief delay before players removed them. Green and gold balloons also cascaded onto the field before kickoff. The scenes were far less disruptive than a similar demonstration by Celtic fans last year aimed at forcing change in that club's hierarchy.
On the pitch, United's difficult season appeared set to continue. Matìas Soulè put Roma in front after 11 minutes, and Donyell Malen doubled the Italian side's advantage from the penalty spot seven minutes later, leaving the hosts trailing 2-0 inside 18 minutes.
Bruno Fernandes restored hope for the home crowd with a penalty of his own to cut the lead in half, and Matheus Cunha struck twice late in the second half to complete the turnaround. It was the first time United had come back from a two-goal deficit in the Champions League since October 2021.
Cunha's celebration after his second goal earned him the first of two quick bookings, but the relief in the stadium was as palpable as the delight as United held on for just their third win of the campaign. The result ended a nine-game winless run and a stretch of three consecutive defeats.
Manager Michael Carrick, whose position has come under intense scrutiny after a troubled start to the season, played down the significance of the victory. "I'm not getting too carried away with things," he said. "I think it's an important night. But we've got to take stock, we've got to stay calm and prepare and be ready for another big game on the weekend."
Asked whether he felt relief at the final whistle, the 45-year-old was adamant. "Genuinely, no," Carrick said. "I didn't feel relief. I was genuinely pleased for the players." He added that he felt the responsibility of the occasion and was simply glad to see the squad rewarded for digging deep.
United fans have tried for years, without success, to force regime change at the club through repeated protests against American owners the Glazer family, who have been unpopular since their leveraged buyout of the club in 2005. British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, a minority owner and head of petrochemical giant INEOS, has also drawn criticism over the team's on-field struggles and increased ticket prices since he assumed control of soccer operations after purchasing an initial 25% stake for $1.3 billion in 2024. In that span, the 20-time English champion has fired two coaches.
United entered the Roma match sitting 17th in the Premier League after a historically poor start to the 2026-27 season. They return to action against Aston Villa on Nov. 8 before the international break.
