Yes, IMUSA, It's ALL About You!

MANCHESTER UNITED NEWS


United security accused of denying protestors

May 4, 2010

Manchester United's security staff have been accused of denying supporters entry to Monday's reserve league final at Old Trafford because they believed the fans were about to engage in a green and gold protest.
But United have played down the incident, saying the initial decision was taken because the size of the banners being carried contravened ground regulations.
"As a result of meetings between the club and IMUSA, banners are allowed at Old Trafford that conform to our regulations,'' said a United spokesman. "Fans are free to protest providing it is in a peaceful way.''
Green and gold scarves have become a visual reminder of the opposition to the Glazer family's ownership of the Red Devils at United matches since January.
Supporters groups opposed to the Glazer regime estimate that "99%" of fans are against the owners, who they hope will accept an offer for the club from the Red Knights group which is due to be launched at some point in June. **
Both Sir Alex Ferguson and United chief executive David Gill have backed the rights of fans to protest, even if they do not agree with the sentiments.
Only this weekend, Gill addressed the issue in the Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association magazine Rollin' Reds.
He said: "I have asked the players and they say they are not distracted, but if your question is 'would I prefer all red and white instead of gold and green when you have a full stadium and you are playing host to famous opposition', of course I would.
"If the question is 'would I prefer not to look out of my office and see the scarves they are selling on the street', of course I'd prefer that. But as Alex has said, people have a right to protest.
"Nobody is going to stop that, and in the ground itself we are not going to stop that."
United's security experts CES were accused of ignoring that stance by the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association.
"The reserves played Aston Villa in front of a crowd of about 4,000 but many fans were prevented from seeing their victory as large groups of CES (who were again not showing their badges) stopped people in their twos and threes from gaining entry because of their supposed involvement in protests on other occasions," a statement from IMUSA said.
"We are also told that the local police intelligence officer joined in with this intimidation, giving people 'verbal warnings' for having engaged in legitimate peaceful protests at other matches. This same officer told whoever cared to listen that 'he didn't need a reason' when asked why he was evicting a small number of young teenagers from the ground.
"IMUSA remains deeply concerned about the moral and legal implications surrounding this heavy handed approach to the suppression of legitimate protest."***
United won their Premier Reserve League Play-Off match against Aston Villa on penalties to clinch the title, with goalkeeper Ben Foster among the scorers in the shoot-out.

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When you have a ticket to see Michael Buble, do you take your knitting?  When you have mezzanine tickets to see La Boheme, do you take your iPod? 
These are the questions I would ask the IMUSA twits.  As a diehard fan of United, and one who lives thousands of miles from Old Trafford, I would give just about anything to see a United match live at The Theatre of Dreams.  So it irks me to no end to read about those who have the right to do that every day and instead of cheering for their team (which, correct me if I'm wrong, is the purpose of having a ticket), take placards for protest and green and gold scarves to support their red and black team. 
Maybe it's a British thing.
Or maybe it's a stupid thing.

I will respond to some of my favorite quotes from this article:

**  99%?  Maybe it would be 99% if this guy is alone in the bathroom and he's counting everyone there!  I have several friends who attend these matches and they assure me that it's not even one-quarter of the people in attendance.  I'm sure it's more like 9.9%.

*** These nitwits should be more concerned about suing the person who removed their brains while they weren't looking.  It's a footy match.  You're there to watch footy.  Is that so difficult to get your pea-sized gray matter around?
I'm disgusted that the young lads who have slogged their guts out the entire season to arrive at the Reserves Final had to see these yobs, dips, and gits sporting green and yellow, and obviously more concerned about the Glazers than the score on the pitch.  The players are bruised, sore, and out of breath just to give these ungrateful "supporters" a trophy to be proud of.
Maybe they should move across town and cheer for THAT "club." I wonder if they would still be "supporters" if United hadn't won anything in 34 years...