Sir Jim Ratcliffe sneaked into Old Trafford through back door for Man Utd vs Man City amid huge fan protest

MANCHESTER UNITED co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe snuck into Old Trafford via a back door for the Manchester derby on Sunday. Ratcliffe, like many VIP attendants at United’s stadium, usually enters via the Stretford End tunnel in the south-west corner. Ratcliffe in the stands at Old Trafford on Sunday Credit: PA United fans protest against Ratcliffe and the Glazers Credit: Shutterstock Editorial But on the day that hundreds of United supporters protested against the club’s ownership, Ratcliffe went in via the north-west quadrant in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand. Ratcliffe was greeted by Josh Thompson, the multi-programme manager at United who has been a fixture at home matches since February 2024. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Thompson’s father, David, was previously a chief executive of Ratcliffe’s Ineos petrochemicals business. An eyewitness said Ratcliffe arrived around 50 minutes before kick-off in a chauffeur-driven car that passed supporters before he emerged and entered via a back door in the quadrant. Security bollards were lowered so the car was able to drive onto the forecourt in front of the W2 car park. United protesters assembled at the Bishop Blaize pub on Chester Road, roughly a five-minute walk from the stadium. Pre-match protests in the past have progressed into the Munich Tunnel in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand, where the directors’ box is located. Supporters aired anti-Ratcliffe and anti-Glazer chants in response to the club’s recent ticket-touting clampdown. Most read in Sport Ratcliffe speaks to Thompson Credit: PA The process led to thousands of fans being locked out of their accounts while 166 accounts had their season tickets banned for at least one year. As United and City emerged for kick-off on Sunday, a banner above the tunnel was unfurled and read: “The way you treat us is a disgrace.” Avram Glazer was also in attendance at Old Trafford for the first time since the opening fixture against Arsenal in August last year. His brother, Joel, has not watched United at their own stadium since the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Barcelona in April 2019. A United spokesman said: “We never comment on anything related to ownership movement.” Avram Glazer, sat in front of Ratcliffe Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Man Utd ratings: Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu prove costly at the back as Kobbie Mainoo impressive in the middle DIOGO DALOT and Patrick Dorgu exposed Man Utd's defensive frailties as bitter rivals Man City stole all three points in the Manchester derby Erling Haaland scored a hugely controversial winner after VAR overturned an offside call. Replays showed Patrick Dorgu played Haaland onside, while City’s new £125million man Enzo Fernandez was incredibly deemed to have not been interfering with play. Kobbie Mainoo was really put to the test against a rock solid City midfielder, but grabbed the game by the lapels in the second half and was hugely unlucky not to score. Here’s how SunSport’s Samuel Luckhurst rated the Red Devils at Old Trafford. Comment now