The highly visual green and gold campaign aimed at highlighting opposition to the Glazer family received an unexpected publicity coup when David Beckham picked up one of the scarves and placed it around his neck before he made his way down the tunnel after Wednesday night's Champions League demolition of AC Milan.
Images were flashed round the world almost immediately, bringing instant recognition to the focal point of the protests, and a desire for more knowledge about the Red Knights group aiming to wrest control of the club.
The drip-feed of information from that section continued on Thursday when it was confirmed leading global investment bank Nomura will be advising the Red Knights about their prospective takeover bid.
Sources close to the Glazer family have continued to insist the club is not for sale, and they have no intention of off-loading, despite debts in excess of £700million.
It was a message reinforced by Gill as he was announcing a new five-year deal with Telekom Malaysia to become the 'Intergrated Telecommunications Partner' of the Old Trafford outfit.
"There are protests," said Gill. "Everyone has the right to protest and there was certainly a lot of green and gold there on Wednesday night, you cannot deny that.
"But this partnership demonstrates the strength of the club. It is a long-term partnership for five years.
"We will be around for the length of this five-year deal and many more in addition to that.
"We have a sound business model and Telekom Malaysia is partnering one of the best teams in world football. That will always be the case."
The sponsorship agreement is part of a new commercial strategy implemented by the Glazer family.
Instead of taking a global approach, United adopt a territorial stance, doing exclusive deals in specific areas to maximise income and make the most of an estimated 333 million supporters worldwide.
It was one of the facts the Glazers took into account when they launched their own takeover, which at the time even Gill felt involved too much debt.
Now though he feels the evidence points to a streamlined business model that, in the day-to-day running of the club, delivers huge profits.
"The owners thought we were doing very well on the commercial front but that there were other opportunities out there," he said.
"This is the insight they have brought in.
"It doesn't get much media coverage but the very fact they have come in and are able to do these deals benefits us. We can reinvest that money back into the team."
Gill's comments reinforce the view inside Old Trafford that the only reason the vast majority of the £80million received from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo remains unspent is due to Sir Alex Ferguson's reluctance to enter what he feels is an inflated transfer market.
The Manchester United Supporters Trust argue differently of course, although Ferguson is not about to spend big just to prove a point.
However, there could be a spin-off from United's latest deal.
"Manchester United created a lot of enthusiasm for football when they came on tour last summer," said Dato'Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, chief executive of Telekom Malaysia.
"Over the course of this deal I would like to see some of the younger talents in Malaysia go to Manchester United to train and maybe the other way round.
"That will only help our country to progress."
For United it means a greater connection to the four million fans they are estimated to have in the country, whose passion was shown in the summer when 40,000 people attended a match in Kuala Lumpur at 48 hours notice following the cancellation of the Jakarta leg of their tour.
2010年3月11日星期四
If The FA Do Nothing, What`s The Point...?
On average, thousands of referees quit football every year at because of the abuse they receive from players and from the sidelines...
In response, The FA's Respect programme provides a series of tools for leagues, clubs, coaches, referees, players and parents from grassroots to elite football to ensure a safe, positive environment in which to enjoy the game.
When the FA launched their Respect campaign, any right-thinking person could not criticise its aims, or believe that it didn't have the best of intentions.
The only criticism sensible commentators could and did have, was the hope that this wasn't merely a well-intentioned talking shop. That it would prove to be more than some nice slogans and TV adverts that made us stroke our chins and make approving 'Hmmmmm' noises.
The FA has had a number of ideal chances to show they are serious, to make an example of someone, if you will. And the latest came with Steven Gerrard's V-sign shenanigans against Wigan on Monday night.
Excuses have been made for Gerrard, largely along the lines of 'He was showing his passion', and the suggestion that Gerrard was signalling he had only committed two fouls is perfectly plausible. Plausible, that is, if it wasn't accompanied with the words 'F**k off' from England's vice-captain, words that didn't take a great deal of lip-reading skill to decipher.
Indeed, Rafa Benitez's explanation that he was simply 'moving his fingers' is up there with Gerard Houllier's assertion that Robbie Fowler was mocking Rigobert Song in the laughably implausible stakes
However, anyone with an ounce of objectivity knew what Gerrard was doing.
Take anyone who has no interest in football to a match and the chances are they will be shocked at the behaviour that is considered acceptable in a ground, when it would not be tolerated in the real world.
It's a clich? but kids really do emulate their heroes, which is one of a thousand reasons why players and fans alike should be encouraged to behave like respectable human beings at matches.
So by implicitly condoning abuse of referees the FA are dooming their pledge to help football 'from grassroots to elite' before they've really started.
It was with depressing predictability that the FA hid behind Andre Marriner's dismissal of the gesture, but in trying not to undermine the authority of one official, they have undermined the aims of an entirely laudable campaign. A campaign for which they are currently running a series of TV adverts, that one imagines did not come cheap.
Here was a perfect opportunity - a high profile figure, caught red-handed, doing exactly what 'Respect' preaches against, but the FA have done nothing.
Managers are routinely 'asked to explain' comments about referees when emotions are high, so why has Gerrard not even been invited to the shiny new offices at Wembley for a chat?
The FA have form in not punishing an England international in a World Cup year (the dent in Neil Lennon's face is evidence enough for that), but they must separate the national side with their role as a disciplinary body.
One might wonder why/despair that a campaign such as 'Respect' exists, but if the FA continue to do nothing even when presented with the clearest of cases, it has no hope of making any impact.
Nick Miller
In response, The FA's Respect programme provides a series of tools for leagues, clubs, coaches, referees, players and parents from grassroots to elite football to ensure a safe, positive environment in which to enjoy the game.
When the FA launched their Respect campaign, any right-thinking person could not criticise its aims, or believe that it didn't have the best of intentions.
The only criticism sensible commentators could and did have, was the hope that this wasn't merely a well-intentioned talking shop. That it would prove to be more than some nice slogans and TV adverts that made us stroke our chins and make approving 'Hmmmmm' noises.
The FA has had a number of ideal chances to show they are serious, to make an example of someone, if you will. And the latest came with Steven Gerrard's V-sign shenanigans against Wigan on Monday night.
Excuses have been made for Gerrard, largely along the lines of 'He was showing his passion', and the suggestion that Gerrard was signalling he had only committed two fouls is perfectly plausible. Plausible, that is, if it wasn't accompanied with the words 'F**k off' from England's vice-captain, words that didn't take a great deal of lip-reading skill to decipher.
Indeed, Rafa Benitez's explanation that he was simply 'moving his fingers' is up there with Gerard Houllier's assertion that Robbie Fowler was mocking Rigobert Song in the laughably implausible stakes
However, anyone with an ounce of objectivity knew what Gerrard was doing.
Take anyone who has no interest in football to a match and the chances are they will be shocked at the behaviour that is considered acceptable in a ground, when it would not be tolerated in the real world.
It's a clich? but kids really do emulate their heroes, which is one of a thousand reasons why players and fans alike should be encouraged to behave like respectable human beings at matches.
So by implicitly condoning abuse of referees the FA are dooming their pledge to help football 'from grassroots to elite' before they've really started.
It was with depressing predictability that the FA hid behind Andre Marriner's dismissal of the gesture, but in trying not to undermine the authority of one official, they have undermined the aims of an entirely laudable campaign. A campaign for which they are currently running a series of TV adverts, that one imagines did not come cheap.
Here was a perfect opportunity - a high profile figure, caught red-handed, doing exactly what 'Respect' preaches against, but the FA have done nothing.
Managers are routinely 'asked to explain' comments about referees when emotions are high, so why has Gerrard not even been invited to the shiny new offices at Wembley for a chat?
The FA have form in not punishing an England international in a World Cup year (the dent in Neil Lennon's face is evidence enough for that), but they must separate the national side with their role as a disciplinary body.
One might wonder why/despair that a campaign such as 'Respect' exists, but if the FA continue to do nothing even when presented with the clearest of cases, it has no hope of making any impact.
Nick Miller
Benitez upbeat despite defeat
Eden Hazard's goal five minutes from time when his free-kick sailed over the Liverpool defence and past a static Jose Reina inside the far post just when it seemed the visitors had weathered the storm.
But it could have been far worse had substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's shot not hit the post and gone wide late on.
Benitez had called for a reaction from his players following Monday's disappointing defeat to Wigan and he felt they had done that.
"It was an improvement from the last game. The players' reaction has been very positive," said Benitez.
"I am disappointed with the result but really pleased with the effort of the players. They were fantastic today.
"It was against a good team on a difficult pitch. The reaction has been good.
"I think Lille started really well. We knew they had pace - you can watch videos but until you see them on the pitch you don't see the pace they have.
"It was difficult to stop them but little by little we had more control.
"When we had that control and were going forward we conceded the goal."
Despite conceding plenty of possession to their opponents Liverpool could easily have been 2-0 up at half-time after Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres were both denied by Lille keeper Mickael Landreau.
Benitez admitted that those missed opportunities cost them and could have put a completely different perspective on the match.
But it could have been far worse had substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's shot not hit the post and gone wide late on.
Benitez had called for a reaction from his players following Monday's disappointing defeat to Wigan and he felt they had done that.
"It was an improvement from the last game. The players' reaction has been very positive," said Benitez.
"I am disappointed with the result but really pleased with the effort of the players. They were fantastic today.
"It was against a good team on a difficult pitch. The reaction has been good.
"I think Lille started really well. We knew they had pace - you can watch videos but until you see them on the pitch you don't see the pace they have.
"It was difficult to stop them but little by little we had more control.
"When we had that control and were going forward we conceded the goal."
Despite conceding plenty of possession to their opponents Liverpool could easily have been 2-0 up at half-time after Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres were both denied by Lille keeper Mickael Landreau.
Benitez admitted that those missed opportunities cost them and could have put a completely different perspective on the match.
Pompey receive administration boost
Pompey escaped being wound up after HMRC abandoned their claim that Pompey owner Balram Chainrai did not have the legal right to put the club into administration.
The cash-strapped south coast club were also encouraged by Pompey administrator Andrew Andronikou, who promised fans that no players will be moved on ahead of their FA Cup semi-final.
HMRC's decision to drop their case was just the boost Portsmouth had been looking for after slashing 85 Fratton Park jobs yesterday.
A spokesman for the club told Press Association Sport: "The Revenue has accepted the administration is valid."
But Portsmouth now face a nine-point deduction from the Barclays Premier League for entering into administration.
However, with their FA Cup semi-final against Fulham or Tottenham looming, Andronikou pledged no players will be leaving the club before the Wembley showdown.
Some members of manager Avram Grant's backroom staff were included in the staff cull, although none of them were high-profile.
Players cannot be made redundant due to protection afforded to them by the Professional Footballers' Association.
But the cancellation of loan agreements to save on wages is a consideration, with Pompey having six temporary signings on their books.
"Selling players is an option but first I need to broach the subject with the Premier League," said Andronikou. "I need their concession.
"As an alternative from looking at the Premier League advancing TV money, I suggested to them to possibly open the window to allow me to sell two players on a loan-back.
"It's one of those subjects we need to discuss further with the Premier League.
"However, I will not be looking to sell players before the semi-final and I will not be looking to cancel loan agreements before the semi-final.
"The minute I start tinkering with the football part it will be a big mistake. I can promise I will leave that until after the semi-final."
He added: "The players are very much protected by the PFA and unfortunately I am unable to make any cuts in the playing staff.
"They are very much the shop window of the club so instead I hope they can attract a buyer to this club."
The cash-strapped south coast club were also encouraged by Pompey administrator Andrew Andronikou, who promised fans that no players will be moved on ahead of their FA Cup semi-final.
HMRC's decision to drop their case was just the boost Portsmouth had been looking for after slashing 85 Fratton Park jobs yesterday.
A spokesman for the club told Press Association Sport: "The Revenue has accepted the administration is valid."
But Portsmouth now face a nine-point deduction from the Barclays Premier League for entering into administration.
However, with their FA Cup semi-final against Fulham or Tottenham looming, Andronikou pledged no players will be leaving the club before the Wembley showdown.
Some members of manager Avram Grant's backroom staff were included in the staff cull, although none of them were high-profile.
Players cannot be made redundant due to protection afforded to them by the Professional Footballers' Association.
But the cancellation of loan agreements to save on wages is a consideration, with Pompey having six temporary signings on their books.
"Selling players is an option but first I need to broach the subject with the Premier League," said Andronikou. "I need their concession.
"As an alternative from looking at the Premier League advancing TV money, I suggested to them to possibly open the window to allow me to sell two players on a loan-back.
"It's one of those subjects we need to discuss further with the Premier League.
"However, I will not be looking to sell players before the semi-final and I will not be looking to cancel loan agreements before the semi-final.
"The minute I start tinkering with the football part it will be a big mistake. I can promise I will leave that until after the semi-final."
He added: "The players are very much protected by the PFA and unfortunately I am unable to make any cuts in the playing staff.
"They are very much the shop window of the club so instead I hope they can attract a buyer to this club."
Hamburg on top, Liege stun Greeks
Goals from Joris Mathijsen and Ruud van Nistelrooy put the Bundesliga side two up before Jonathan Legear curled home a glorious free-kick in first-half stoppage time for the Belgians.
But David Jarolim guided a volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the area in the 67th minute to restore Hamburg's two-goal advantage as they ran out 3-1 winners.
Wolfsburg have the upper hand in their tie with Rubin Kazan after drawing the first leg in Russia 1-1.
Zvjezdan Misimovic equalised in the 67th minute to cancel out Cristian Noboa's opener just before the half-hour mark.
Atletico Madrid and Sporting Lisbon drew 0-0 in the Spanish capital.
The visitors played for most of the game with 10 men following the 31st-minute sending off of Leandro Grimi for two yellow cards.
However, that wasn't their only disciplinary problem as they were reduced to nine in the 89th minute when Tonel received a straight red.
Standard Liege enjoyed perhaps the most impressive win of the night with a 3-1 success against Panathinaikos, who beat Roma in the last round, in Greece.
Goals from Axel Witsel and Milan Jovanovic put the Belgians two up in the opening 16 minutes.
Loukas Vyntra pulled one back three minutes after the break, but Igor De Camargo added a third for the visitors in the 74th minute and Pana's miserable night was complete when Simao was sent off in the 90th minute.
Second-half substitute Hatem Ben Arfa headed a 90th-minute away goal to earn Marseille a 1-1 draw at Benfica.
Ben Arfa, who came off the bench in the 74th minute, cancelled out Maxi Pereira's 77th-minute opener.
Juan Mata equalised for Valencia two minutes after they had been reduced to 10 men to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Werder Bremen.
Torsten Frings put the Germans ahead with a 25th-minute penalty and the visitors received another boost when Ever Banega was sent off 10 minutes after the break.
But Mata levelled to give the La Liga side hope going
But David Jarolim guided a volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the area in the 67th minute to restore Hamburg's two-goal advantage as they ran out 3-1 winners.
Wolfsburg have the upper hand in their tie with Rubin Kazan after drawing the first leg in Russia 1-1.
Zvjezdan Misimovic equalised in the 67th minute to cancel out Cristian Noboa's opener just before the half-hour mark.
Atletico Madrid and Sporting Lisbon drew 0-0 in the Spanish capital.
The visitors played for most of the game with 10 men following the 31st-minute sending off of Leandro Grimi for two yellow cards.
However, that wasn't their only disciplinary problem as they were reduced to nine in the 89th minute when Tonel received a straight red.
Standard Liege enjoyed perhaps the most impressive win of the night with a 3-1 success against Panathinaikos, who beat Roma in the last round, in Greece.
Goals from Axel Witsel and Milan Jovanovic put the Belgians two up in the opening 16 minutes.
Loukas Vyntra pulled one back three minutes after the break, but Igor De Camargo added a third for the visitors in the 74th minute and Pana's miserable night was complete when Simao was sent off in the 90th minute.
Second-half substitute Hatem Ben Arfa headed a 90th-minute away goal to earn Marseille a 1-1 draw at Benfica.
Ben Arfa, who came off the bench in the 74th minute, cancelled out Maxi Pereira's 77th-minute opener.
Juan Mata equalised for Valencia two minutes after they had been reduced to 10 men to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Werder Bremen.
Torsten Frings put the Germans ahead with a 25th-minute penalty and the visitors received another boost when Ever Banega was sent off 10 minutes after the break.
But Mata levelled to give the La Liga side hope going
Juve ease past Cottagers
Fulham were second best for most of the first half and found themselves 2-0 down thanks to goals from Nicola Legrottaglie and Jonathan Zebina.
A deflected goal from Dickson Etuhu gave the Cottagers an undeserved foothold in the game, but Trezeguet struck on the stroke of half-time to restore Juve's two-goal advantage.
Roy Hodgson's men tried to find another vital away goal in the second period, but the Italian side kept them at bay and will carry a significant advantage ahead of the second leg next week.
Hodgson handed Paul Konchesky his first start in almost two months in the place of cup-tied Nicky Shorey while Clint Dempsey, who picked up a serious knee injury in January, was a surprise inclusion on the substitutes' bench.
Alberto Zaccheroni made four changes to the Juventus side that beat Fiorentina last weekend, among them World Cup winners Fabio Cannavaro and Fabio Grosso.
Hodgson admitted before kick-off his side were playing one of the biggest matches in the club's history and they soon looked out of their depth against a fluent Juve side dripping with class.
The Old Lady, currently fifth in Serie A, began with a fluid passing game and Mark Schwarzer soon found his goal under attack when he reacted well to tip Trezeguet's goal-bound strike around his left hand post.
A deflected goal from Dickson Etuhu gave the Cottagers an undeserved foothold in the game, but Trezeguet struck on the stroke of half-time to restore Juve's two-goal advantage.
Roy Hodgson's men tried to find another vital away goal in the second period, but the Italian side kept them at bay and will carry a significant advantage ahead of the second leg next week.
Hodgson handed Paul Konchesky his first start in almost two months in the place of cup-tied Nicky Shorey while Clint Dempsey, who picked up a serious knee injury in January, was a surprise inclusion on the substitutes' bench.
Alberto Zaccheroni made four changes to the Juventus side that beat Fiorentina last weekend, among them World Cup winners Fabio Cannavaro and Fabio Grosso.
Hodgson admitted before kick-off his side were playing one of the biggest matches in the club's history and they soon looked out of their depth against a fluent Juve side dripping with class.
The Old Lady, currently fifth in Serie A, began with a fluid passing game and Mark Schwarzer soon found his goal under attack when he reacted well to tip Trezeguet's goal-bound strike around his left hand post.
Liverpool Were The Week`s Big Winners
And This Is How...
It seems to have slipped by un-noticed but perhaps the real winners last night were Liverpool? Before you dismiss this as crazy talk and wonder out loud 'how can they be winners when they haven't even kicked a ball?' allow me to explain.
With Real's latest 'project' going belly up last night (yes, they've still got the chance of domestic champions but Real Madrid have always been about winning the biggest prize in Europe) the writing could be on the wall for their coach. It's been a fairly open secret that they want to win it again and there's a chap toiling away in L4 who has proven pretty handy in the European Cup. He's also a Real Madrid old boy so a nice link there.
Rafa would get his dream move. The growing band is dis-contented Liverpool supporters would get their wish. The club wouldn't have to buy out Rafa's contract by sacking him if he doesn't make 4th spot, indeed they'd maybe get some compo from Real. And it seems as if the players would be happy also.
Everyone's a winner (apart from Pellegrino, of course)!?
Gregory Whitehead
Have We Under-Rated The Prem?
With Arse's crushing victory over one of Portugal's top clubs and our easy humping of Milan, you can also see Chavski progressing against Inter which will make it three English clubs in the CL quarters. So why does everyone keep saying the standard in the Premiership has dropped this season, there is no logic to this Media-led argument?
It seems to stem from the fact that the big three have accumulated more losses in the league than normal at this stage. But this doesn't mean the league has become rubbish, just that it's become more competitive. Isn't this what we've all been waiting for for ages?
And if Barce had produced the same results as us or Arse, everyone would be rubbing themselves. Yet when English clubs succeed the media line is to dismiss the opponents such as Milan as being flat (I'm looking at you F365). Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't they turn over Real Madrid on their patch earlier this year and are now closing in on a faltering Inter in Serie A? And don't Madrid lead the Liga from Barce, albeit on goal difference? Barce themselves struggled against Stuttgart while the rest of the CL line-up is not exactly fearsome e.g. Bordeaux, Olympiakos, CSKA Moscow etc.
It seems to have slipped by un-noticed but perhaps the real winners last night were Liverpool? Before you dismiss this as crazy talk and wonder out loud 'how can they be winners when they haven't even kicked a ball?' allow me to explain.
With Real's latest 'project' going belly up last night (yes, they've still got the chance of domestic champions but Real Madrid have always been about winning the biggest prize in Europe) the writing could be on the wall for their coach. It's been a fairly open secret that they want to win it again and there's a chap toiling away in L4 who has proven pretty handy in the European Cup. He's also a Real Madrid old boy so a nice link there.
Rafa would get his dream move. The growing band is dis-contented Liverpool supporters would get their wish. The club wouldn't have to buy out Rafa's contract by sacking him if he doesn't make 4th spot, indeed they'd maybe get some compo from Real. And it seems as if the players would be happy also.
Everyone's a winner (apart from Pellegrino, of course)!?
Gregory Whitehead
Have We Under-Rated The Prem?
With Arse's crushing victory over one of Portugal's top clubs and our easy humping of Milan, you can also see Chavski progressing against Inter which will make it three English clubs in the CL quarters. So why does everyone keep saying the standard in the Premiership has dropped this season, there is no logic to this Media-led argument?
It seems to stem from the fact that the big three have accumulated more losses in the league than normal at this stage. But this doesn't mean the league has become rubbish, just that it's become more competitive. Isn't this what we've all been waiting for for ages?
And if Barce had produced the same results as us or Arse, everyone would be rubbing themselves. Yet when English clubs succeed the media line is to dismiss the opponents such as Milan as being flat (I'm looking at you F365). Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't they turn over Real Madrid on their patch earlier this year and are now closing in on a faltering Inter in Serie A? And don't Madrid lead the Liga from Barce, albeit on goal difference? Barce themselves struggled against Stuttgart while the rest of the CL line-up is not exactly fearsome e.g. Bordeaux, Olympiakos, CSKA Moscow etc.
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