Death threat for Cantona

Football

Football

Police are taking seriously a death threat made against Eric Cantona and his Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

The threat came from a man claiming to be a supporter of the French striker's former club, Leeds United. In a call to Monthly magazine, the man said a group of Leeds supporters would be carrying weapons when the club plays Manchester United at home on Christmas Eve.

A West Yorkshire police spokesman said the police had been made aware of the threat.

"Such matters are always taken seriously" he said. "Anyone who causes any trouble or attempts to enter the ground with weapons will be dealt with quickly."

Cantona is currently serving a nine-month suspension for leaping a fence and attacking a Crystal Palace supporter with a kung-fu style kick in January. He is eligible to return to action on 1 October.