BID ... Ansar
Hezbollah support Iranian president Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad
Football's silly season has offered up a new contender for most
insane rumour of the summer.
Reports in Iran suggest radical Iranians Ansar Hezbollah want to
buy Manchester United.
The group backers of hard-line Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
even plan to rename the footie giants after a holy Muslim
oasis.
Ansar Hezbollah's secretary general, Mohammad Bagher Kharrazi,
said: "Once we've bought Manchester United we'll change its name to
Khaybar."
Khaybar is near the Muslim holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia and
it is the site where Jewish inhabitants were defeated by the
Prophet Mohammed's followers in 629 AD.
Manchester United fans were furious at the takeover by the American
Glazer family in May 2005.
But the latest report has been met with a smile.
Colin Hendrie, vice chair of the Independent Manchester United
Supporters' Association, joked: "This is exactly why we have a fit
and proper person's test in the Premier League!
"As always, United fans would be against anyone who doesn't have
the best interests of the club in their heart.
"That includes anyone who just wants to make money or a political
point."
Naturally, a spokesman for Manchester United was quick to dismiss
the rumours.
