A day before the pinnacle of the English football calendar, events off-pitch are already entertaining scores of football fans.

Four days ago, an American businessman called Malcolm Glazer completed his takeover of the world's biggest football club, Manchester United. Man U, like many Premier League clubs, is publicly listed. Last week however, it emerged that Mr Glazer had bought the 28.7% equity held by Irish investors John Magnier and J.P. McManus.

By Friday, Mr Glazer's stake had reached 74.8% - he needed only to own 75% of the club to de-list it from the Stock Exchange, and despite the protests and efforts of the fans, he managed this quite easily.

Man U fans who only last year jeered Chelsea supporters when the Russian oil baron Roman Abramovich bought the London club now found themselves in the same situation - and with an American who apparently knew nothing about football to boot.