Erik ten Hag breaks silence on why he lifted green and gold Glazers protest scarf
Erik ten Hag explained that his action of lifting a green and gold scarf on Sunday was not him participating in the Manchester United fans’ protests, but rather a gesture of politeness.
These colors were the original colors of the club when it was known as Newton Heath and have been associated with anti-Glazer sentiment for a long time.
On Sunday, before the 1-0 win against Aston Villa, thousands of fans protested against the Glazers by marching through Manchester.
There are ongoing discussions about the potential sale of Manchester United, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani being the top contenders for a takeover. However, the Glazers may still be involved in some way.
After the team’s victory, Erik ten Hag was handed a green and gold scarf while heading towards the tunnel. He then lifted it up to the cheering fans in the Stretford End before returning it.
Ten Hag addressed the media and explained that he was aware of the meaning behind the green and gold protest scarf when he raised it, but he claimed that his action was simply a gesture of courtesy rather than a statement of support for the protest.
“No, it was just polite. But I know what’s going around, what the symbol of it is, but this matter was just polite,” he stated.
It appears that Manchester United fans’ desire for a change in ownership may soon come true, as the Glazers are reportedly considering two main offers to purchase the club.
One of these bids is from Sheikh Jassim, who made a world-record offer to buy the Red Devils after the final deadline for offers on Friday.
The other bid is from Ratcliffe, whose offer technically values the club higher than Sheikh Jassim’s, but it only aims to secure a controlling stake, meaning that the Glazers could still have a presence at the club alongside him.
In addition to these offers, Manchester United is also weighing the option of a minority investment.
Erik ten Hag breaks silence on why he lifted green and gold Glazers protest scarf
