Soccer: Man U fans greeted by ‘USA, USA’ taunt

CARDIFF - There was a trade in US flags on the streets of Cardiff before the FA Cup final as Arsenal supporters chanting "USA, USA, USA" jeered Manchester United fans over the Malcolm Glazer takeover.

Rain put a damper on the peaceful protests of the United fans, many dressed predominantly in black, against the US financier's purchase of their club last week.

What was probably the last FA Cup final to be staged in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium went off without any major trouble. Police reported only 10 arrests for minor public order offences, two inside the ground.

"A good-natured and friendly atmosphere was maintained throughout the day with one protest, which was conducted in a peaceful manner," said chief superintendent Bob Evans of South Wales Police.

Before the match, a group of around 50 United fans who looked to have been drinking heavily began chanting the rather ominous "Let's get mental".

At that point police sent an equal number of officers to surround them without intervening.

The group, on a street corner almost buried under a metal carpet of empty beer cans, then chanted the names of their favourite players, or "Argentina, Argentina" for defender Gabriel Heinze whose ankle injury put him out of the final.

Inside the stadium, which has been staging English soccer finals since the old Wembley stadium was closed down in 2001, the atmosphere was peaceful with the colour black strongly evident among fans.

United supporters' groups had called on fans to wear black in protest at Glazer's takeover, to symbolise the death of their club as they knew and loved it.

But manager Alex Ferguson and his captain, Roy Keane, had urged United fans to focus on the final against arch-rivals Arsenal as both teams sought to win their only trophy of a disappointing season.

Fans opposed to Glazer, who is paying 790 million ($2.06 billion) for United, say he knows nothing about football and will cream off the profits of the world's richest soccer club to pay off his huge debts in purchasing the club.

Police said that just before kickoff, 100 United supporters staged a peaceful protest with a display of banners outside the stadium.

- REUTERS