Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-chairman of Manchester United, reportedly entered Old Trafford through a back door on Sunday, ahead of the Manchester derby, while Manchester United fans were holding a large-scale protest.

Like many VIPs at Manchester United, Ratcliffe usually enters through the Stretford End entrance in the southwest corner of the stadium. However, on the day hundreds of Manchester United fans protested the club's ownership, Ratcliffe entered the stadium through the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand area on the northwest side.

Ratcliffe was greeted by Josh Thompson, Manchester United's multi-project manager. Thompson has been in charge of relevant work since February 2024 and frequently attends Manchester United's home matches.

Upon Ratcliffe's arrival, he was received by Josh Thompson, Manchester United's multi-project manager. Thompson has been a regular at Manchester United home games since February 2024. Thompson's father, Jonathan Davy, previously served as CEO of Ratcliffe's INEOS petrochemical business.

A witness stated that Ratcliffe arrived at the stadium approximately 50 minutes before kickoff. He was in a chauffeured car and, after passing the crowd of fans, he exited the vehicle and entered the stadium through a back door in the northwest area. Security barriers were then lowered to allow the car to drive into the plaza area in front of the W2 parking lot.

Manchester United protestors gathered at the Bishop Blaize pub on Chester Road, about a five-minute walk from the stadium. In the past, pre-match protests at Manchester United have progressed further to the Munich Tunnel of the Bobby Charlton Stand, where the directors' box is located.

Fans chanted slogans against Ratcliffe and the Glazer family in response to the club's recent crackdown on ticket touting. This action resulted in thousands of fan accounts being locked, and 166 other accounts having their season tickets banned for at least one year.

As Manchester United and Manchester City players emerged for kickoff on Sunday, a banner was unfurled above the players' tunnel reading: "The way you treat us is a disgrace."

Avram Glazer was also present at Old Trafford that day, marking his first time attending a Manchester United match since the season opener against Arsenal last August. His brother Joel Glazer has not attended a Manchester United match at Old Trafford since Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final loss to Barcelona in April 2019.

A Manchester United spokesperson said: "We never comment on anything related to changes in ownership."

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