League concerned about ties between Man U and casino

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 | 9:36 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

The NFL asked Tampa Bay owner Malcolm Glazer on Tuesday to explain Manchester United's relationship with a Las Vegas casino, a venture that could run afoul of the league's policies concerning gambling.

The request came during the NFL's spring meetings, the owners' first gathering since Glazer's $1.47 billion takeover of the world's most valuable soccer club.

League spokesman Greg Aiello said Glazer's acquisition did not violate the NFL's cross-ownership rules and there was no problem related to the debt incurring.

But the league, known to be skittish about any connection to gambling, wants to know more about a proposed resort and casino that would be built near Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium as a joint venture between the club and Las Vegas Sands Corp.

"The only potential issue concerns that reported Man U joint venture with the Las Vegas casino, what that means, and does it have any implications regarding our policies," Aiello said.

Owners voted 27-5 to prohibit the tackle, in which a defender grabs the inside of a running back or receiver's shoulder pads from behind and pulls him down. A violation will result in a 15-yard penalty.