May 04, (THEWILL) – Erik ten Hag has clarified that he was simply being polite and not joining in Manchester United fans’ protests when he lifted a green and gold scarf on Sunday.
Following the win on Sunday, Ten Hag was given a green and gold scarf, which he lifted to cheering fans in the Stretford End before returning it. The original colours of the club when they were known as Newton Heath, green and gold, have long been a symbol of the largely anti-Glazer sentiment that has taken hold of a significant portion of the Red Devils’ fan base.
Ahead of Sunday’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa, thousands of fans marched through Manchester in protest against the Glazers. Currently, the Glazers are in discussions regarding a possible sale, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani being the leading contenders for a takeover. However, the Glazers could still remain involved in some capacity.
With two main bids on the table, Man Utd fans may soon see a change in the ownership of the club as the Glazers ponder their options. Sheikh Jassim submitted a world-record bid for a sports team to buy Man Utd, while Ratcliffe’s bid values the club even higher, but for a controlling stake only. Minority investment is also being considered by the Red Devils.
In all of these, the Norwegian coach courted controversy with his actions following that Sunday fixture. While Ten Hag knew the symbolism behind the scarf, he insisted that his actions were merely a polite gesture.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
