Manchester United owners the Glazers are reportedly set to miss Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral. The United legend and World Cup winner passed away at the age of 86 years old on October 21 as the footballing world went into mourning.
An inquest heard that Charlton died five days after a fall at his care home. He was admitted to Macclesfield Hospital following the incident during which he suffered rib fractures.
The causes of death were given as “traumatic hemopneumothorax, a fall and Alzheimer’s dementia”. An emotional service will be held in Manchester on Monday (November 13) to give Sir Bobby one last send-off surrounded by all walks of the sporting world.
But there are a few notable absentees. According to the Daily Star, the Glazers will not be there to pay their respects in order to avoid any unwanted abuse from supporters.
The report goes on to claim that the Glazers held internal talks with senior club officials in which they decided that their attendance would detract from the massive occasion. It is understood they want all the focus to be on Charlton and don’t want to make any unwanted headlines from potential run-ins with fans.
Charlton served the club with distinction as a director for 39 years. He would regularly attend games at Old Trafford up until his dementia diagnosis in November 2020.
During a stellar 24-year professional career, 17 of which were spent at Man Utd, Charlton won three top-flight titles, two FA Cups, two Charity Shields, a European Cup, and of course, most famously of all, the 1966 World Cup. After graduating from the United academy, Charlton went on to play 758 times for his boyhood club, scoring 249 goals from midfield.
He won the Ballon d’Or in 1966 and was knighted in 1994 for his services to football. Fifteen years later, Sir Bobby was given freedom of the city of Manchester in 2009.
