Gary Neville has warned fans that the owners of the Big Six are a "danger" to English football.
The former Manchester United defender was speaking after their game against Liverpool was postponed by significant protests at Old Trafford from fans targeted at the Glazer family, who own the club.
It was the second, and largest, protest from United fans in recent weeks as they push to change the ownership structure at the club, with supporters also telling departing chief executive Ed Woodward on Friday that they were “disgusted, embarrassed and angry” by the breakaway proposals.
Both clubs were involved in the plan to breakaway and form a European Super League, which was announced last month only to be called off two days later.
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The European Super League: one month on, has the football landscape changed?
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'A catalyst for real change' - how fans of the Premier League's Big Six responded to the Super League
What has been said?
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville called on the Glazer family to sell their stake in the club.
“I think it would be the right thing to do for the Glazers to sell,” he said.
“Whether they will is another matter. I’ve seen the 50+1 protests — I don’t think that’s implementable in English football, as great as it potentially would be.
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“What I do think is achievable in English football at this time if that every fan in this country —whether it’s an EFL club or a National League club that’s struggling and dying like you wouldn’t believe, whether it’s grassroots facilities in the community and you can’t afford to keep your pitches in a good state, whether you’re the 14 Premier League clubs outside the top six – you really know that you’re in danger from those six.
“So what’s achievable? There’s a fan-led review that’s been announced in the last week by the government, and there is independent regulation that could be achievable if fans mobilise together. We need to make sure there are protections put in place against these six owners.
“They are a danger to English football and to one of the greatest assets England has. Big Picture, they put a proposal forward and it was kicked back. Then they said they’d signed up to the European Super League, which took it a stage further. The next time, you won’t get asked. They’ll just leave. They’re not going away.”
What happened?
On Sunday, just after 2pm BST thousands of Manchester United supporters protested against the Glazer ownership at Old Trafford.
Around 200 individuals are believed to have made their way into the stadium, as they continued their rally on the Old Trafford pitch.
There also appeared to be a protest outside the hotel where the United players stayed before the game, with crowds surrounding the team coach at the Lowry hotel.
A meeting then took place to discuss the extraordinary events at Old Trafford, where club staff looked into whether any COVID-19 bubble breaches have occurred given the fan invasion.
A little over an hour after the original kick-off time, the Premier League confirmed that the match against Liverpool has been postponed. A new date for the fixture is yet to be confirmed.
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Why are fans protesting?
United were one of 12 ‘founding members’ of a breakaway Super League, only to reverse their decision two days later. On the same day that they pulled out of the tournament it was announced that Woodward would be stepping down from his role.
A large number of United supporters have long wanted the Glazer family to leave their club, but protests have accelerated since the announcement of the proposals.
What has happened at other Big Six clubs?
The Kroenke family, Arsenal’s owners, have already told fans that they will pay the withdrawal fee incurred from leaving the Super League.
Arsenal fans were vociferous about their unhappiness with the Kroenke family, with thousands of supporters gathering outside The Emirates Stadium before their match against Everton on Friday, April 24.
Ahead of their 1-1 draw with Newcastle last week, Liverpool fans also lined the streets to protest against the FSG owners.
There were similar scenes outside The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium recently, when Tottenham fans held out banners protesting the ENIC ownership group.
Chelsea fans protested outside Stamford Bridge on April 20 in which Petr Cech was pictured pleading with Chelsea fans ahead of their game against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Is there anything else I need to know?
For a closer analysis of how fans have been responding to their clubs’ involvement with the Super League, Go Deeper below.
(Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)