13 November 2023 , 21:19
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Manchester United fans branded the club's owners the Glazers as “shameful” for failing to show up at the funeral of Sir Bobby Charlton.
Reviled American owners the Glazers are understood to have stayed away from the service at Manchester Cathedral because they did not want to cause a distraction or commotion with their presence. But fans branded the no-show as another “shameful example” of their lack of commitment and understanding of the club, by failing to send a family representative to honour the club's greatest player.
A statement from protest fan group The 1958 read: ‘It comes as no real surprise that no one from the Glazer family appears to have bothered paying their respects at the funeral of arguably our greatest ever player. The Glazers have proved time and again they are alienated from the football club and fan base and this is just another shameful example.
“It is our opinion that they simply view Manchester United as a cash cow. They are not fit to be owners of one of the world's greatest football clubs, steeped in history and tradition, epitomised by the skills of players like Sir Bobby.
“I think we can speak for the majority of the fan base that we are glad they did not cause any unwelcome distractions. They would not have been welcome for a man who embodied all that is good at our club. Honour, integrity and dignity.
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“However it is disappointing there has been no public statement from them today or about the sad passing of Lady Cathy.”
Thousands of mourners lined the streets to pay their respects to Charlton, a former Busby Babe who survived the tragic Munich Air Crash before playing a huge role in rebuilding United to become European champions, even scoring twice in the 1968 final.
That was two years after he had been instrumental in England's only World Cup winning side in 1966, again playing a pivotal role in the late stages with a brace in the semi-final win over Portugal. His contribution earned him the Ballon d'Or that year, which he followed with two successive runners-up finished in the same award.
Many notable former and current United players attended the service to remember Charlton on Monday, though manager Erik ten Hag could not be present due to an “unbreakable and longstanding personal commitment in the Netherlands”, according to the club.
Among the mourners were legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who paid a touching tribute to the man he credits for helping him to flourish at Old Trafford.
“He was a fantastic man,” said Ferguson after the service at the cathedral. “I was at United because of Bobby Charlton, no question about that. From the day I came, he supported me 100 percent, all the way.
“He was totally behind me in everything we tried to do in terms of youth and, as I said, I was there because of Bobby."