Police examine threats to Glazer by United fans

Greater Manchester Police are investigating a statement by a militant Manchester United fans' group in which threats were made against Malcolm Glazer's family and anyone who helps the American in his proposed takeover.

"Measures will be put in place to deal with the comments, and an investigation is under way," a GMP spokesman said. A police source revealed, however, that the investigation is likely to comprise nothing more than scrutiny of the statement made by the so-called Manchester Education Committee. If the words are not deemed to be criminal, then no further action will be taken.

The MEC intimated that they are prepared to use violence to stop the Glazer bid, but stopped short of any explicit, direct actionable threat that could be offered in court as evidence.

In a separate development, other fans' groups staged an anti-Glazer protest at Old Trafford yesterday, urging the club's sponsors to back them in their fight. "If Glazer were to acquire the shares, the whole fan base is against him," said Sean Bones, a spokesman for the Shareholders United group.

"The sponsors should play a more active role in convincing the board to turn down the Glazer bid," he added.

* The Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, has ruled out running for the job of Russian Football Union president and is backing the St Petersburg politician Valery Mutko, who is standing against former Soviet goalkeeper Anzor Kavazashvili.