Bayern Munich fans protest Sheikh Mansour and Glazers with 'autocrats out' banner

Bayern Munich fans are known for their willingness to protest matters they do not agree with and they have taken aim at the owners of Manchester City and Manchester United

Patrick Austen-Hardy Senior Sports Journalist

06:51, 12 Apr 2023

Bayern Munich fans travelled to the blue half of Manchester in their thousands(Image: Photo by Richard Callis/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Bayern Munich fans protested the ownership of Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium.

Thomas Tuchel’s side now need a miracle to reach the Champions League semi final after losing 3-0 to the Premier League champions at the Etihad Stadium. It was a dominant performance from Pep Guardiola’s men who have one foot in the last four of the competition thanks to goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.

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But one of the biggest talking points of the contest was the protest from the travelling German fans.

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During the contest, the passionate fans unfurled two banners. The first one read ‘Glazers, Sheikh Mansour, all autocrats out! Football belongs to the people!”

City fans responded to the banner by chanting the name of Sheikh Mansour - their owner and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. Mansour, who has an eye watering net worth believed to be around £17bn, took over the club in 2008 and has bankrolled a stunning rise which has seen the club win six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and six League Cups.

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What was your reaction to the Bayern Munich fans' banner? Let us know in the comments section below

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 11: General View of Bayern Munich fans & banners during the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal first leg match between Manchester City and FC Bayern Munich at Etihad Stadium on April 11, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

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Sheikh Mansour bought Manchester City in 2008(Image: Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the Glazer family do not command the same adulation with their own fan base at United. The American venture capitalists could still sell the club with Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari multi-billionaire Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani the two favourites to purchase the club.

A third round of bidding is expected to take place with interested parties being asked to submit their final offers for the club by the end of April. It is not the first time Bayern Munich supporters have sent a message in the stands.

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Bayern fans also lambasted the Glazer Family(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Bayern fans even held up anti-UEFA signs during the contest

In September, during their Champions League clash against Barcelona, the fans expressed their discontent about the cancellation of numerous matches after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away. In the Allianz Arena, they unfurled a banner which read “last minute match delays and bans because of a Royal’s death?”

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While none of their matches were cancelled, Rangers’ clash against Napoli was moved from the Tuesday night of that week to the Wednesday and away fans were also not allowed to attend due to limitations on police resources.

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