Match off after protest by fans

MANCHESTER, England — Anti-ownership protests by Manchester United fans forced the postponement of a Premier League game against Liverpool on Sunday after the stadium was stormed and thousands more supporters blocked access into Old Trafford as they demanded the Glazer family sell the club. The unprecedented cancellation of a game in the world’s richest soccer league due to fan protests is the culmination of long-running anger against the American owners that began with a 2005 leveraged takeover that loaded debt onto the club. But the wrath of supporters has boiled over in the two weeks since the New York Stock Exchange-listed club was part of the failed European Super League breakaway that collapsed amid a groundswell of condemnation. The Glazers, who also own the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have declined to engage with fans or media since buying United in 2005. Supporters gaining access to the field — before the two teams even traveled to Old Trafford — was even more startling given the strict coronavirus measures in place around the stadium that keep games closed to any spectators. One of the flares set off by fans was launched into the stands where the Sky Sports television team was already broadcasting more than two hours ahead of the scheduled kickoff. Although the protest had been announced in advance, the stadium forecourt on Sir Matt Busby Way was still able to be accessed by thousands of fans, many chanting “We want Glazers out!” as flares were set off. The crowd was only dispersed after baton-wielding police and officers on horseback charged fans as clashes erupted under a shower of flying glass bottles about 20 minutes before the game was due to have started. Two police officers were injured and one required emergency treatment for a “significant slash wound to his face” after being attacked with a bottle, Manchester authorities said.

› NASHVILLE — Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis made two big saves in the early minutes, and Nashville and Inter Miami CF played to a scoreless draw Sunday. Willis had a diving save to his right in the fourth minute, denying Lewis Morgan, before turning away Jay Chapman in the seventh. In the 70th minute, Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman dragged Robbie Robinson to the ground from behind on his straight-on run to the goal. Referee Rosendo Mendoza motioned to his back pocket, giving the impression a red card was forthcoming, but instead gave Zimmerman a yellow that was upheld by video review. Nashville is 0-0-3; Miami is 1-1-1.

TENNIS

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MADRID — Rafael Nadal hopes to use the Madrid Open to keep improving ahead of the French Open after a slow start to the season. Nadal won the recent Barcelona Open for his first title of the year, and the second-ranked Spaniard has been slowly gaining his best form after a long layoff prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. “This will be only my fourth tournament of the year,” Nadal said. “Now it’s time to push, to make that extra effort entering the next three months.” Nadal is also expected to play in Rome before returning to Roland Garros to try to win a record-extending 14th French Open title and 21st Grand Slam men’s single title, which would give him sole possession of the record he currently shares with rival Roger Federer. After losing to Andrey Rublev in the Monte Carlo quarterfinals, Nadal dropped multiple sets in Barcelona before eventually outlasting Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final for his record 12th at the tournament. Nadal has won the Madrid Open five times but not since 2017.

FOOTBALL

› JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Nolan Henderson passsed for 239 yards and Dejoun Lee and Anthony Paoletti had rushing touchdowns as Delaware upended No. 4 seed Jacksonville State 20-14 on Sunday in the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The Blue Hens remained undefeated through seven games this season. The title hopes for Jacksonville State (10-3) were doused when all-purpose quarterback Zion Webb left the game for good after a noncontact injury early in the second quarter. Even before then, however, Delaware established control of the line of scrimmage. Paoletti’s 1-yard scoring plunge on the game’s opening drive completed an eight-play, 75-yard march. After the Gamecocks punted on their opening possession, Delaware went on an 11-play, 89-yard drive that ended with Lee pounding it in from a yard out.