Thousands of green and gold balloons were released at Old Trafford ahead of the Champions League clash with Roma - but why?

On Tuesday night, Manchester United welcome Serie A side Roma to Old Trafford for what feels like a pivotal match in what has so far been a dismal season.

But before the match even began, drama unfolded inside the stadium as United fans in the Stretford End released green and gold balloons as part of a protest against the club’s ownership.

Manchester United's green and gold balloons explained

Although many of United's fans have been directing their frustrations at the club's players and at head coach Michael Carrick, the majority of the anger has been directed at the club board.

For years, both Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family have become increasingly unpopular, and one fan group decided that they'd truly had enough and were going to make it known on Tuesday night.

In a protest against the Glazer family ownership, thousands of green and gold balloons - representing the club’s original colours - were released from the Stretford End as the Champions League music played.

Shortly after conceding the second goal of the evening, many of the fans then started throwing the deflated balloons onto the pitch at their own players, further showing their anger.

Plans for the protests are said to have been deliberately kept quiet unitl shortly before kick-off, partly to avoid online supporters picking it up, as the unnamed fan group wanted to make it clear the anger was from regular matchgoing fans.

They had hoped to bring a banner with them, reading 'No new stadium, we want new owners”, but they weren't allowed to do so because UEFA were 'unable to sanction the banner in time'.

A similar protest is believed to be planned for the weekend, as United face Aston Villa on Sunday at Old Trafford.

Another protest has recently gained traction on social media, suggesting fans all leave in the 21st minute of Sunday's match, signalling the 21 years of Glazer ownership.