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| Glazer dealt United TV blow (go back to the homepage) Malcolm Glazer has been dealt a serious blow to his hopes of Manchester United securing their own TV deal after the European Commission said they would not support a legal challenge by the club's new owner. Final first: Sir Alex Ferguson has asked fans to get behind the team on Saturday United and the other 19 Premier League clubs have a joint selling agreement by which they negotiate collectively for the domestic and overseas rights to the competition. Glazer is thought to have his eyes on United breaking away from that agreement, possibly by challenging the ruling in the European courts under free market legislation. The EC competitions commission have been in conflict with the Premier League over their TV deals before but their spokesman Jonathan Todd has ruled out any backing from Brussels for a challenge to the principle of joint selling. "We do not have a problem with joint selling, and we have recently given our blessing to a similar agreement with the German Bundesliga," Todd said. "We have a provisional agreement with the Premier League and we are still talking to them about the terms and conditions of the contracts, but the principle of joint selling is not a problem." The EC's main concerns are about trying to prevent a monopoly by a broadcaster rather than a collective agreement by a league. Their position is bad news for Glazer, with an individual TV deal for United being the easiest way of raising revenue at the club and clearing the £540 million debts incurred by his takeover. United earned £31.7 million from the Premier League last season, of which £30.1 million came directly from TV money and the remainder from sponsorship and licensing. Were they able to do their own deals, United could expect to at least double their income from that source of revenue. Sir Alex Ferguson has urged the club's fans not to let their bitterness at Glazer's takeover spoil Saturday's FA Cup final. Major supporters groups Shareholders United and the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association have called for mass demonstrations in Cardiff this weekend to emphasise the strength of feeling against Glazer's involvement. "This is not the time to be answering questions about Malcolm Glazer's takeover of the club," he said. "Ever since I became manager of Manchester United, my main concern has always been the team. Our focus has to be 100 per cent on the final this week, otherwise we will not be doing our jobs properly. "Of course the fans are emotional. Given the loyalty they have shown over the years, it is understandable. But this is their big day as well as ours. The supporters and players should be together in their attempts to win this match on Saturday. "Nothing else matters and I am sure they will not let us down." |
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