I’m struggling to understand why you’re so bothered about this? Fund raisers are done to provide legal defence all the time, and what happened to innocent until proven guilty?
Protest at Old Trafford
- Thread starter Lennon7
- Start date
I’m struggling to understand why you’re so bothered about this? Fund raisers are done to provide legal defence all the time, and what happened to innocent until proven guilty?
I'm at my next match in OT in a few weeks Vs Arsenal and I'll donate to MUST. For the record I do not condone or believe in violence or breaking the law, but if I get pushed too far? I'll push back.
History worldwide is littered with events where people stood up for what they believed in and protested against it.
If I was in Manchester that day I'd have joined the protest too. I'm sure plenty of people on this forum sat back, applauded and thought the same at the time. Some people have a short memory.
History worldwide is littered with events where people stood up for what they believed in and protested against it.
If I was in Manchester that day I'd have joined the protest too. I'm sure plenty of people on this forum sat back, applauded and thought the same at the time. Some people have a short memory.
Then you quite literally miss the point of it: "We believe that, like any any other member of the public, football fans should be entitled to a presumption of innocence unless proven guilty and just as importantly everyone deserves proper legal advice and representation."
Donated and I hope the ridiculous actions of the police the other night doesn't put people off protesting in a similar manor in future when the time comes - and I'm sure it won't.
Anyone arranging any protests in the Texas area, please let me know.
I suppose I’m more bothered about the fact that it is two highly prominent fan groups essentially asking for money for suspects of crimes who will get free and independent legal advice anyway and because I think it is only happening because of the situation that the arrears occurred.
Where and how do we draw the line for other fans who get arrested at games or is this something that will happen all the time now? Get arrested for any offence at a game and set up a Go FundMe page?
I also have a huge dislike for Go FundMe pages anyway so that might’ve skewed my initial reaction
Completely agree. And this is why every person who is arrested is offered the chance to take a solicitor that is FREE and independent from the Police. A solicitor that they are allowed access to throughout any investigation.
I am not getting in an argument about the behaviour of the Police either because that was, and often is, abhorrent. A trend that seems to occur massively when it comes to fans at football matches and something I cannot stand.
The fact that the Police were terrible on the day doesn’t give anyone the right to go and commit criminal offences.
Nor, in my opinion, should it be a reason for other football fans to donate money to pay for their legal expenses when they already get legal advice, especially when we don’t know a jot about the evidence against them or what they have been charged with!
For all anyone knows, the evidence might be so overwhelming against them they plead guilty at the first opportunity. I’m not sure I’d be so happy to have donate if that was the case.
If people want to donate, that’s fine. I think it’s weird but each to their own. My issue is more with the fan groups promoting it, especially when one of them has always seemed reluctant to be too involved in the protests because of their relationship with the club
Part of MUSTs remit has always been to provide advice and legal assistance to matchgoers who need it - I suppose this is the first time in ages that there is a large number rather than just 1 or 2
I personally won't be donating to this though for similar reasons that you outlined
You have a dozen more important things to protest in Texas than a club in Manchester.
"Raising funds to provide legal advice and representation to Manchester United supporters arrested following the protest held on the date of the Manchester United vs Liverpool match on 2nd May 2021."
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-57079467
A man, 25, has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
He is also being held on suspicion of violent disorder and burglary.
GMP said the officer suffered a broken eye socket, broken nose and a slash to the face when an object was thrown at his face at the Old Trafford protest.
Are you donating to help out the man in the article below or is he excluded from your charity? Just wondering what you're supporting.
The fans in legal trouble arent in trouble because the protested peacefully now are they.
Peaceful protesting achieved nothing at all for years, frankly anyone fighting on behalf of the fans for the football club deserves proper legal advice and representation, not just the freebies.
I was on a United protest march back in 2003 when I saw the police drag a teenager to the floor and give him a good seeing to, after which they charged him for assaulting a police officer. Thankfully by chance his mother was a friend of a friend, I found out they were charging him and I appeared as a witness in his case, after which he was acquitted. Just because the police want to charge someone doesn't mean feck all, after all the police force in Manchester is one of the worst in the country. I don't doubt plenty of these guys are bad uns and deserve punishment, but there's a reason why everyone deserves legal advice, not everyone the police arrest are guilty.
Completely respect those that wanted to protest but I totally disagree with damaging property and breaking and entering, I'm not going to donate to support thugs in the court of law. There are ways to protest without causing damages... this is football and it should never come to violence - it's fecking sport.
That is all well and fine and 18 years ago. Im talking about a incident where a policeofficer was verifiably grievously injured by a protesting fan.
I assume that no one here condones that. So my qustion goes: Will the funds from this GoFundMe be used to defend that particular individual?
Way to miss the point. Sometimes the police charge people are who are innocent, which is why they need legal advice.
And they get it for free
You have access to free legal advice in Britain though.
But yes, then I presume that the money will also go to offer legal advice to the defendant accused of assaulting the police officer.
I will abstain from donating then. I'm happy to donate for civil disobedience, but there is a hard line at physical violence.
Not many people get 100% criminal legal aid.
Not everyone does.
Everyone who are arrested or questioned in conjunction with a crime can request free legal advice from the police stations 24/7 duty solicitor before questioning or after if they change their mind after having not requested one previously.
And if all criminal cases ended there and then, that would be a valid point.
They get legal advice and representation throughout trial. Yes if guilty they have legal fees but then the argument becomes how comfortable are you at paying fees of someone guilty of a crime on the basis you support the same football club
Because I agree with someone we should spend money on a midfielder doesn’t mean I have a list of crimes I’m ok for them to commit.
They still have access at any point.
But moreover. Since the gofundme asks for money to defend a man who is well documented through numerous video recordings to have injured a policeofficer who was at the scene to protect the peace, I cant in good conscience say that this is something I'd be ok with supporting.
If it had been a group of fans obstructing traffic or peacefully enteirng Old Trafford and sitting down at the grass and refusing to move, fine, absolutely I can support a protest like that. But there is too high a likelyhood that any money donated can go to defend a man likely to be convicted of assault for this to be appropriate.
This was changed about 5 years ago i believe, now the amount you can reclaim is capped if you don't quality fully for legal aid, even on acquital.
Not free access they don't.
Yes you do get free legal aid, however, not all barrister's chambers take on free legal aid cases, so if your case is going to be dealt with above the magistrates court level then your solicitor will be required to refer your case to a barrister. So if you decide to pay for a Barrister of your choice it can be expensive. For example one of my friends is a Barrister with chambers in the north west of England, he mainly does defence work, 4 years ago his hourly rate was £400 an hour plus expenses, i.e., travel to interview you if on remand and hotel costs if the trial was outside the area of his chambers.
My own view is that you should not expect others to pay your legal expenses if you wish to go outside the free legal aid system.
My own view is that you should not expect others to pay your legal expenses if you wish to go outside the free legal aid system.
Legal Aid is means tested so not everyone gets it.
The protest need to go up a few level to pressure Glazers to sell asap. We need to make absolutely clear to the leeches that we want them out asap.
We need time to get prepare for next season with new onwers. It's very concerning that there is a slight chance that the leeches may stay.
We need time to get prepare for next season with new onwers. It's very concerning that there is a slight chance that the leeches may stay.
I don’t think they give a shit. They know full well they are not wanted. No way they “hurry up” for anybody, their message to the fans is clearly “feck off and do as you want, we’ll sell when we’re good and ready so feck off some more”.
Yeah, it's very naive to think otherwise. We literally cancelled the biggest game in the country, got a worldwide media coverage and nothing happened in the end. If they're serious about their ridiculous 6bn price tag, no protest will make them reconsider.
Yet within 12 months of major protests and the Liverpool game being cancelled here we are. The club is officially for sale and bids are being taken.
It's naive to think the Glazers are not worried about the impact of fan discontent, protests and public boycotts on the revenue for the club, through sponsorship, which ultimately would impact their dividends.
The moral of this story is, it's naive to think.
Thanks and good luck to anyone who protests before and during tonights game.
No correlation between the two whatsoever.
We are one of the most indebted sports organisations in the world and under the current economic conditions the banks are constantly raising the interest rates.
We are running out of cash - literally down to 30m in cash reserves.
Our stadium is falling apart, our training ground needs major investment.
The squad needs significant investment if it is to compete in the richest league in the world.
But yeah, it's the protests.
I don’t think; therefore I am.
how do you protest when you still buy merch and tickets
Since ever home match a section of the crowd shouts they want to kill one of them, we will be lucky if they don't sell us to North Korea... a parting shot so to speak.
However we know it has always been about money for the Glazers they will have to make a judgement on how much for, and just as importantly, when to sell.
Coming down the pike.... massive amounts to rebuild or new build OT, even bigger transfer fees (although they must be confident in ETH on this) and the risk the current bidders may get fed up and go somewhere else. There is also the risk of a government regulator being appointed, the 'super league' will return, albeit in a different format, which will bring in more money from the mass media companies, and may tempt the Glazers to hold on, especially if they cannot get the price they want now, but in truth that still looks a way off and it will depend whether other PL clubs join.
Fans never had a say in the Glazers purchasing the club, never had a say in running the club and most certainly wont have a say in selling the club. Que Sera Sera!
Or different people have different opinions?
5 of the points bolded above have applied to United for years. Nothing new.
its a big assumption that the protests didn't make a difference. Especially when you consider the impact of protests across history.
Also, we had the first response from a Glazer in over 15 years after the protests. Yes it was only bullshite PR but still it got their attention and that of our sponsors. Which ultimately will have a financial impact which is the language the Glazers understand.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles...s-response-to-fans-over-super-league-protests