Manchester United supporter Frank Ilett – better known online as The United Strand – was attacked by a fellow fan during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford after refusing to cut his hair until the team wins five consecutive games.
Ilett, who has built a following of more than 364,000 Instagram users for his tongue-in-cheek protest, was confronted in what appeared to be the stadium concourse shortly after the match.
Video footage circulating on social media shows another supporter grabbing Ilett by the hair and attempting to push him to the ground before being restrained by onlookers.
The aggressor, visibly furious, could be heard shouting: “F**k off, f**k off, I’ll do what I fing want.
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"Listen, he’s not a United f***ing fan, so f**k off!” The clip quickly went viral, sparking widespread condemnation of the incident.
Ilett, who has now gone more than 350 days without a haircut, launched the challenge in October 2024 as a way to inject humour into what he called “a very difficult period” for the club.
United’s longest winning streak since then remains three matches back in January, leaving Ilett with an impressive afro and growing fame.
Manchester United supporter Frank Ilett – better known online as The United Strand – was attacked by a fellow fan during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford after refusing to cut his hair until the team wins five consecutive games
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Rather than letting the altercation spoil his day, the fan took to Instagram shortly after the match to post a defiant update.
“What a place. Wet hair, but still a smile on my face! A big win today! What a crazy game it was in the end! One down, four to go. COME ON UNITED!” he wrote.
Speaking to the BBC earlier this week, Ilett admitted the challenge had taken on a life of its own.
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“It’s been an absolutely crazy journey – I never expected my hair, or my following, to be as big as it has become,” he said.
“It’s gone on for a lot longer than I ever expected.”
The fan remains optimistic that Ruben Amorim's side can finally put together the five-game run that will earn him his long-awaited trim.
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“I’m hopeful that maybe by the end of the year, maybe I’ll get a haircut,” he added.
“The perfect ending would be one of the players to cut it at Old Trafford.”
United’s victory over Chelsea means they are one step closer to fulfilling Ilett’s wish.
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A Man Utd fan shouted expletives at Frank Ilett following their 2-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday
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The team faces Brentford away next weekend before hosting Sunderland ahead of the international break – games that could see the club move closer to their longest winning run of the season.
For Ilett, though, the viral challenge continues to be about more than just hair.
“It was only ever meant to spread some humour,” he has said in the past.
Judging by his reaction to Saturday’s ugly clash, it will take more than a tug on his famous curls to end the stunt.