Whether helping bring down Jose Mourinho, marching against their club’s owners or pushing back against plans to commercialize their sport, football fans have a long history of using their passion for the game as a vehicle to fight for change. This gallery, curated by AP’s Matias Delacroix, highlights some of the most memorable fan protest stories over the years.
On Saturday, fans of second-division Sheffield Wednesday stormed the pitch during their match against Coventry City, causing a five-minute stoppage in play as security cleared them away from Hillsborough Stadium. They were protesting against the club’s owner, Dejphon Chansiri, who has been struggling to pay staff wages on time.
Meanwhile, in Germany, Borussia Dortmund fans threw tennis balls onto the field during their match against Stuttgart to protest ticket prices. According to the BBC, some tickets to Tuesday’s game cost as much as PS64.
Thousands of West Ham fans also staged a protest against the club’s board before their Premier League game with Crystal Palace. The demonstrators gathered close to the club’s London Stadium home with banners and flags that read “just resign” and “sold a dream, living a nightmare.”