Manchester United’s fan rebellion against the ruling Glazers doubles as a cry for reconnection to their club

Even your average Australian, one with no ties whatsoever to English football or the round ball game in general, has heard of Manchester United.

For a generation, the name became synonymous with sporting excellence — the biggest and most popular team in the biggest and most popular sport in the world.

They were David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney — with manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the top of it all. They were a gateway to the game for many in this country and around the world, and embedded themselves in wider pop culture as a result.

But as of right now, the global image of Manchester United is no longer of goals and trophies, but of protests and heated rebellion.