Man U players warned not to join anti-Glazer protest

London, May 8 (ANI): Keeping in mind plans of rebel Manchester United supporters to flood the Old Trafford stadium with the champions’ old colours to protest against the Glazer family’s ownership, players have been ordered not to pick up any such scarves hurled on the pitch after Sunday’s Premier League game.

Pressure group Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) announced on Friday that they would be handing out free “Glazers Out” kits containing a flag, whistle and card emblazoned with the word “GO”.

They blame the American family for saddling the club with huge debts and want fans to hold up the cards when TV cameras focus on them or if United score against Stoke City.

United players have been warned that they must not give the “Glazers Out” campaign publicity by donning anything green and gold, like ex-star David Beckham did when he returned with AC Milan earlier this year.

“The word has come down from on high that the lads should only pick up red and white scarves, hats and flags. The Beckham incident was quite embarrassing for the club and the last thing they want is for Wayne Rooney or Ryan Giggs to be seen in green and gold,” The Sun quoted a United source, as saying.

In an email to supporters, MUST said: “Win, lose or draw, let’s call time on the Glazers. The manager, the players, the supporters – we’re all part of one big Manchester United family. The Glazers are not part of our family. We need to make that clear!”

Club chief executive David Gill said last week he would rather see the stadium full of red and white scarves instead of green and gold. (ANI)

Cowell, Cheryl Cole were among targets of Manchester terror plot

London, Apr 12 (ANI): British TV producer Simon Cowell and Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole were among the targets of the Manchester terror plot.

Security sources say terrorists wanted to strike at packed X Factor auditions in the city next weekend, the Daily Star reported.

The hugely popular event will see thousands of young – and old – wannabes trying to impress show chiefs. And as many as 100,000 potential pop stars will pack Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.

The whole audition process running over two days will be filmed by ITV1 crews, so that any attack could be captured on film.

And intelligence sources say that the scale and potential exposure of the event made the auditions a “prime target”.

Last night, 11 of 12 suspects arrested during raids were still being quizzed by anti-terror police. The 12th – an 18-year-old – was released into the custody of the UK Borders Agency, who will now investigate his immigration status.

A source told the Daily Star: “With the vast numbers of people involved in auditions they are an extremely high-risk target. Our information led us to believe that terrorists weren’t plotting small-scale attacks – they intended one that would cause mass carnage.”

The level of security at the auditions is believed to be another factor behind the intelligence chiefs’ fears. Sources say security at X Factor events is “relatively light” compared to football matches.

Last year radical Islamist preacher Omar Bakri claimed the show is “anti-Muslim” and said that simply watching the hit series is a “form of hatred”. (ANI)