United fans banned over Glazer protest

FIVE more United fans who participated in 'childlike' behaviour when a protest turned violent before a Premier League clash with Liverpool have avoided jail.

- LYELL TWEED

Thousands of fans descended on Old Trafford on May 2 last year to protest the Glazers' ownership of the club, but it quickly deteriorated into some engaging in drunken violence against police officers.

One officer was 'seriously injured' and the game had to be postponed after fans clashed with police and stewards, with dozens of fans breaking into the stadium and throwing bottles and cans during the fracas.

There are 40 defendants overall being hauled before the courts after pleading guilty to violent disorder and other offences.

Dylan Blood, Ben Cowlishaw, of Trafford, Robert Edwards, Jake Collins and Simon Wright all avoided jail for their part in the violent disorder caught on CCTV cameras.

Manchester Crown Court heard Wright, 27, could be seen at the front of a crowd near the Munich Tunnel making aggressive gestures towards officers, calling them 'stupid f***ing c***** and throwing bottles and cans at them. Prosecutor David Lees said Wright, who had been drinking heavily, had to be physically restrained by another protester to stop his aggression towards the officers.