Man Utd fan 'punched repeatedly by police' during protest arrest left with 'broken jaw and cracked ribs', partner claims
A MAN allegedly punched by cops during the Man Utd protests has been left with a broken jaw, his partner claims.
The 28-year-old was arrested as 200 fans blocked the entrance to the Lowry Hotel, Manchester, on Sunday, where the team was staying.
His partner says he has cracked ribs and had to go to hospital before being interviewed.
She told the Manchester Evening News: "I've been ringing [the non-emergency police number] 101 since 6pm yesterday and they couldn't tell me anything except he was in a police station in Pendleton.
"Then today they said he was in hospital but they couldn't tell me why or which hospital.
"I got a call from him at 12.50pm and he said he was going in to be interviewed [by police].
"They've broken his jaw and fractured his ribs.
"It's absolutely disgusting – they didn't need to punch him the way they've done."
It came after the match between Manchester United and Liverpool was called off due to protests.
Demonstrators against the Glazer family, United's owners, got onto the Old Trafford pitch and clashed with cops.
An estimated 10,000 fans gathered en masse outside the Theatre of Dreams in a protest against the club's American owners, with frustrations coming to a head after their failed plot to join the European Super League.
Footage shows the man being dragged behind a police van by multiple officers, as cops shout at him to "stop resisting".
One masked officer appears to punch him a number of times as he is restrained on the pavement, before pushing away people filming.
He yells at the person recording "get back now" and "do as I say", before the individual says "I am doing as you say, no need to touch me".
An eyewitness outside the hotel told the Mirror: "What kicked that incident off, I believe, was there was a lorry trying to get through and basically the protestors wouldn't let the lorry come through.
"The driver got out and a couple of protestors starting climbing on the front of the lorry."
Police at both protests used batons to quell angry supporters, who want the Glazer family to sell up.
FAN FURY
A line of riot police at the stadium – backed by horses – pushed the crowds back from the area where the players were meant to enter the ground.
The demonstration had been planned days in advance, with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pleading for it to be peaceful.
But tempers flared during the protests with supporters seen throwing punches at each other.
Fuming Red Devils fans even blocked their squad from leaving the Lowry Hotel ahead of their clash against their bitter rivals.
The players and staff eventually left the hotel at 7.15pm, with a police escort.
Six cops were left injured in the clashes – with one slashed across the face with a bottle.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "We are aware of a video circulating online of officers making an arrest during a protest today (2 May) near The Lowry Hotel.
"The video depicts officers arresting a 28-year-old male on suspicion of a theft from a motor vehicle and a public order offence. He currently remains in custody for questioning.
"GMP's Professional Standards Branch has been made aware of the video and will be examining the footage and all available evidence to understand the full circumstances surrounding the arrest."
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