Manchester United Says Paper Conspired With Violent Fans
Manchester United Says Sun Newspaper Conspired With Violent Fans
(Bloomberg) -- Manchester United accused the U.K.’s Sun newspaper of conspiring with a group of violent fans who damaged its executive vice chairman’s home in a protest over the soccer team’s poor performance.
The club said it believed the newspaper received advance notice of the intended attack, which “included criminal damage and intent to intimidate, and that the journalist was present as it happened.”
The quality of the images accompanying the Sun’s story on Jan. 29 indicated a photographer was also present, the club said in an emailed statement. It made a formal complaint to U.K. press regulator, the Independent Press Standards Organization.
The incident followed growing frustration among some of Manchester United’s fan base at its relative lack of success on the field, with many blaming Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward for the club’s problems.
“The Sun condemns fully the attack on Mr. Woodward’s home and is happy to cooperate fully with any police inquiry,” the News Corp.-owned tabloid said in an email. “However The Sun, like all newspapers, vigorously defends its right to report.”
The club said the journalist failed to do the “basic duty of a responsible member of society to report an impending crime and avert potential danger and criminal damage” and that “his presence both encouraged and rewarded the perpetrators.”
In its statement, the newspaper said it was tipped off about the protest and sent a reporter. It also defended its coverage.
“The Sun accurately reported the events that unfolded,” the statement said. “At no time was our reporter made aware of what was to take place nor incited it or encouraged any criminal activity. The article made it clear that the behavior was criminal and unacceptable.”
To contact the reporter on this story: David Hellier in London at dhellier@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Aaron Kirchfeld at akirchfeld@bloomberg.net, Rob Golum, Linus Chua
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