Steward fired over United’s green-and-gold protest

A steward at Manchester United has been sacked for siding with anti-Glazer protestors as tensions rise over the American family's ownership of the club.

The divisions are now so marked that stewards, who are supposed to maintain order in the ground, almost ended up fighting amongst themselves over how they should treat the revolt taking place at Old Trafford.

Protestors have adopted Manchester United's original colours of green and gold as a mark of opposition to the ownership of the club by the Glazer family, who have saddled the club with debts of £716.5m.

Granville Boden,a former steward at United, told the Times he was dismissed by CES, the Old Trafford security firm, after a row erupted when he tried to hand an anti-Glazer banner back to fans last month. The incident began during the league game against Burnley when other stewards confiscated the sign, which was covering the scoreboard.

The 53-year-old, who had served as a steward for 19 years, said that staff were involved in a 20 man stand-off after he tried to hand the banner back at the end of the game. "People had to be pulled apart after that incident. You don't work as a steward for financial rewards but because of your emotional commitment to the club. Fans have every right to say if something is wrong and to protest," he said.

Boden told the Times the row was reflective of the "wider internal divisions" within United and claimed that seven stewards and catering staff had been disciplined for wearing green and gold.

United fans believe the club is trying to stamp out dissent by confiscating banners. At the recent match against Hull supporters blocked the aisles at Old Trafford to prevent security staff getting to supporters holding up an anti-Glazer flag.

United have also been forced to deny reports they have banned fans wearing green and gold from entering executive lounges.

The green-and-gold movement, based on the colours worn by the original Newton Heath club when it was founded in the 19th century, has gathered pace and the Manchester United Supporters Trust has sold an estimated 30,000 green and gold scarves, and the colours are now almost as in evidence as the usual red at Old Trafford. ·