Manchester United Women fans warned about anti-Marc Skinner chants during friendly

A small group of Manchester United Women supporters were warned about singing ‘we want Skinner out’ after players and staff are said to have become uncomfortable with the chanting during a friendly match against Dutch side PSV.

On Friday night in Malta, United manager Marc Skinner was subjected to songs that called for him to leave the club during their mid-season friendly.

It has been alleged that at half-time a supporter, who was not participating in the chant, was asked by a United security guard to stop singing the song.

United have said that this was to de-escalate tension between the fans, players and staff, but supporters at the match told The Athletic that the players were applauding them — as they normally would — after the game ended.

“Over the past year and a lot more recently we have become despondent in the way the team is playing, recent results, the tactics, the rumours of player unhappiness,” an email sent to the Manchester United Women’s Supporters’ Club on Saturday read.

“Last night, several (supporters) sang “We want Skinner out” only for a club representative to come and speak to Natalie at half time and tell her that we are not allowed to sing it because it’s upsetting the players.

“That is absolutely ridiculous. The words used are not offensive. It is our opinion of the manager. For a club representative to come and pick her out to tell her that we can’t sing certain chants was totally incorrect.

“We have paid our hard-earned money to travel and watch the team and if we are not happy with the manager we should be able to do so.”

United say they have looked into the circumstances of the incident and concluded that the security guard was acting on behalf of the staff and players and went over to the fans to prevent a confrontation from happening.

At no point, the club say, were they instructed to stop their ‘we want Skinner out’ chants and United are satisfied by how their employee acted and insist that they respect the fans’ right to hold strong opinions and express them.

“There are a number of fans who are unhappy with the management and the tactical performances that we are having at the moment,” said one of the supporters present.

“I didn’t see any of the players look upset by the chanting, but then I wasn’t looking at them the entire time. At half-time, the security guard came over and asked to speak to a supporter.

“During the match and at the end, it did not look like there was any animosity and they were clapping us at the end and smiling. They didn’t look to be upset with us.

“The people there are not malicious people, nor would they do anything confrontational. There were a few people singing, but it wasn’t angry. We believe in the message, but it wasn’t delivered angrily.”

United came from behind to win the game 2-1, with their goals coming from Jayde Riviere and Nikita Parris.

They are fourth in the Women’s Super League, seven points behind leaders Chelsea, and are in FA Cup fourth-round action against Newcastle United on Sunday.

Skinner took over at United in July 2021 after Casey Stoney’s resignation. United finished fourth in Skinner’s first season in charge, followed by a second-place finish last term.

GO DEEPER

Full Time with Jessy Parker Humphreys: Why do Man Utd look so disjointed?

(Lewis Storey/Getty Images)