A significant number of Manchester United fans joined in an anti-Glazer demonstration at United's reserve match v Wigan at Hyde yesterday.

CES stewards more usually seen at Old Trafford were out in force and without any indication to suggest that this was likely to happen called in the GMP to help them "prevent a possible pitch invasion".

Prior to the arrival of the police, stewards were using a hurriedly constructed ground rule, that was actually designed to prevent dangerous weapons entering the ground, to force the demonstrators to take down banners with anti-Glazer messages on.

These banners were put back up again after the Police arrived and made the assessment  that the protest was entirely peaceful and that these banners were not a danger to anyone. They also viewed the possibility of a pitch invasion to be remote to non-existent.

One protester said that "The Police made the right choice letting us show our banners and they protected our right to free speech."

The GMP's actions are in sharp contrast to the behaviour of the Dutch police in Amsterdam, where they acted, without question, on Brian Glazer's instructions to remove the very same banners that were on display at Hyde tonight.