Manchester United's tour de farce a disservice to Red Devils' fans in Asia

Straits Times

2 days ago

A fan in the stands before the friendly between Manchester United and Asean All-Stars at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur on May 28. PHOTO: AFP
SINGAPORE – A trophyless season and a 15th-place finish in the English Premier League might be a painful result, but one could reason that Manchester United had a manager who was hired mid-season for a squad that badly need a rebuild. But watching young United players hold up their middle fingers at fans and behaving poorly after a shambles of a season?
That is the real insult, and it has left a bitter taste that their fans – especially in Asia – should not be made to swallow.
After United's worst season in the English top flight since 1973-74, Ruben Amorim and his squad travelled to Malaysia and Hong Kong for two post-season friendlies which they estimate will generate about £10 million (S$17.4 million).
United lost out on a £100 million pay day following their Europa League final defeat and missing out on the Champions League. While two extra games after a long campaign is not ideal for weary players, this tour is a necessity during a time of economic strain for the club – a situation partly caused by the players' underwhelming displays during the season.
But during this tour, it was not their performance in these two inconsequential games that was the talking point, but the poor conduct of some players.
Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho were filmed holding up a middle finger on at least two separate occasions and footage on social media appeared to show Garnacho shoving a supporter who was filming him.
While Garnacho has not addressed his behaviour publicly, Amad said in a social media post that he should not have made the gesture, though he added that he had no regrets as someone had allegedly insulted his mother.
There is little in the footage posted online by fans that support Amad's account.
Regardless of what was said, there is no justifying flipping the finger at fans. Especially when the player is in club attire and fans have waited hours in hot, humid conditions to catch a glimpse of him and his teammates.
These are the same fans who have stuck by them, often staying up late into the night or the wee hours over the past year, enduring uninspiring and disappointing performances, yet still showing their passion for their team.
Amad and Garnacho were also pictured with their middle fingers out when posing for a photo with two fans in what appears to be an elevator. Although the full context is not known, were they so naive to think that it would not end up online? Did they consider what a poor example they are setting for their young fans?
Amad has been a rare shining light for the team this season, but this off-field behaviour is short of the standards required of any professional athlete, let alone one representing one of the biggest clubs in world football.
United legend David Beckham, who played for the club from 1992 to 2003, has expressed disappointment with the behaviour of the squad during their postseason tour of Asia.
While Beckham did not name any players or mention specifics of their conduct, he told CBS Sports: 'It's true that it's the pitch that matters, but I see a lot of things that are not acceptable to me as a fan and a lover of Manchester United. You have to represent the badge. I've seen a lot of things where players didn't act in the right way.'
Comparing the team to the one he played for under Alex Ferguson, he added: 'Everywhere we travelled, whether in Europe or Asia, we respected the fans. We respected the fact that they came and paid money to see us, to get an autograph or to take pictures. You have to respect that.'
Both players are in their early 20s, and perhaps immaturity played a role here. However, this also raises a larger question: Is this simply youthful folly, or does it point to deeper issues within the club, one that stems from a lack of leadership in the ranks?
Another key question is: If this had happened in England, one would expect media backlash and the players would likely face fines or other disciplinary action. Why was this standard not upheld when such disrespectful gestures were directed at Asian fans?
United have said that the middle finger gesture was in response to 'serious personal abuse' but have they conducted their own investigation, or have they taken Amad's word for it?
They claim to love the adulation from Asia but their actions – or lack of it – speaks louder.
Everyone is cognisant that these Asian tours, including the July 23-27 Singapore Festival of Football featuring Serie A giants AC Milan and Premier League clubs Arsenal and Newcastle, are driven primarily by revenue.
And while these tours are cash cows for the clubs and a chance to grow their brand, for the fans it is a rare opportunity to see their favourite players up close without having to pay a premium to travel to Europe.
Their support cannot be taken for granted.
So when a player flips the finger at supporters, it is not just an insult to an individual but a slap in the face to the entire fan base.
And while clubs chase profits, they must not forget the respect for fans. Money talks in football, but there has to be a line where business ends and basic decency begins. Passion cannot be monetised indefinitely and dismissive attitudes cannot be explained away as public relation missteps.
The actions of Garnacho and Amad will no doubt sting for a while, but it provides a critical opportunity for reflection and education – for the players involved, their clubs, commercial partners, and stakeholders in the community.
We cannot afford to let incidents like this pass without accountability, or fans will choose to vote with their feet.
Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports journalist at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news.
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.