Office of Fair Trading to probe Manchester United's takeover

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The British Government believes the Office of Fair Trading will wish to consider whether the takeover of the Premier League club by the US billionaire Malcolm Glazer raises any competition concerns.

Junior Government minister Lord Davies of Oldham made this clear in written House of Lords answers to Labour peer Lord Morris of Manchester. But he added that ministers could intervene only in cases that raised specific "public interest considerations". Lord Morris, who said he was "deeply concerned" about the situation, had asked whether the Government proposed to take any action and whether ministers were inquiring into the extent to which the interests of stakeholders in the club were being protected.

The Office of Fair Trading will wish to consider whether the proposed takeover raises any competition concerns. Such consideration is a matter for the independent competition authorities.