Manchester United fans force Champions League game delay with protest against ownership

Manchester United fans demonstrated against the club's owners both before and during their match against AS Roma on Tuesday.

A group of United supporters began hurling tennis balls and other items onto the Old Trafford pitch. The action commenced at 20 minutes and five seconds, a timeframe chosen to symbolize the year the Glazers took control at Old Trafford.

Hero of the night Matheus Cunha was among the players who assisted in clearing the objects from the playing surface. After they were removed, the match was able to continue, as per the Manchester Evening News .

Hundreds of yellow and green balloons were also launched from the Stretford End before kickoff as the teams emerged from the tunnel.

The demonstration marks the latest in an extended series of protests against United's ownership. Before the Manchester derby on September 13, approximately 500 fans rallied against the club's efforts to eliminate ticket touting.

United had anticipated the initiative would end ticket touting, and although the operation was considered successful, they also acknowledged that "some innocent supporters may have been affected".

Chants opposing Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers have become a fixture of the United repertoire, with fans directing their frustration at the team's woeful performance toward the owners rather than Michael Carrick.

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However, for the first time since September 10, United fans were given good reason to cheer on their side on Tuesday, coming back from 2-0 down at halftime to beat Roma 3-2.

The comeback began courtesy of a Bruno Fernandes penalty, before Cunha equalized with a close-range effort in the 83rd minute thanks in no small part to woeful defending from the visitors.

The Brazilian then gave United the lead three minutes later with a thundering effort, prompting him to take off his jersey and dive into the crowd in celebration, leading to a yellow card.

This proved costly as the clock wound down, with a rash tackle in the 91st minute leading to a second yellow as the hero of the game was given his marching orders.

Regardless, United were able to hold onto the lead and thus end their nine-game winless run.