Man charged following protest by Manchester United fans
Published: 14:57, 04 May 2021
Updated: 16:02, 04 May 2021
A man has been charged following a protest by Manchester United fans.
Michael Anthony James Cusker, 28, was charged with throwing fireworks in a street, use of threatening behaviour and wilful obstruction of the highway following the protest outside The Lowry Hotel in Manchester on Sunday, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said.
Cusker, of Winstanley Road, Manchester, was bailed to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on May 25.
The force spokesman said the incident had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct to “ensure complete transparency and independence”.
About 200 fans gathered outside the hotel, where the United players were staying, on Sunday afternoon to protest against the club’s owners, the Glazer family.
A group of more than 1,000 protesters were outside Old Trafford ahead of Sunday’s match against Liverpool, which had to be postponed when fans stormed the pitch.
The force spokesman said six officers were injured as flares were let off and bottles thrown during the protests.
One officer sustained a fractured eye socket and another a facial wound.
Manchester United were among 12 clubs that last month signed up for the breakaway Super League, which collapsed within 48 hours due to huge opposition.
Following the protest, the Premier League said it understood the fans’ “strength of feeling”, but condemned “all acts of violence, criminal damage and trespass, especially given the associated Covid-19 breaches”.
The Football Association said it is also investigating.
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