LONDON - Manchester United's largest fan group is launching a registration drive to stop Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer from buying the Premier League club.
Shareholders United, which controls about 2 percent of the club's shares, started enrolling fans Tuesday for free membership in the group's trust. The group's goal is to sign up 100,000 United fans worldwide.
Manchester United announced last week it received a "preliminary approach" for a takeover of the club. Although the club did not identify the bidder, it was widely reported to be Glazer - whose company owns a 19 percent share in the club and steadily has been increasing his share.
WORLD CUP QUALIFYING: Two-time champion Uruguay was held to a scoreless tie by Bolivia, and Saudi Arabia beat Indonesia 3-1. ... The United States can reach the regional finals with a win over Panama tonight at RFK Stadium in Washington. ... With a deliberate yellow card in Saturday's 2-0 win over Wales, England captain David Beckham got himself suspended for today's qualifier against Azerbaijan, knowing he would miss the game anyway because of injury. FIFA spokesman John Schumacher did not rule out possible disciplinary action against Beckham for unsportsmanlike contact.
COLLEGES: UConn frosh still critical
UConn freshman guard A.J. Price remains in critical condition at Hartford Hospital more than a week after having a brain hemorrhage. Price was rushed to the hospital Oct. 5 and has been critical since, but family members said he is responding to therapy and slowly showing improvement.
SOCCER: Gregg Emmerman's goal lifted the host Spartans to a 1-1 tie with Rollins. ... Samantha Robinson scored the only goal in the 68th minute, as Tampa defeated Florida Southern in Lakeland. ... Junior forward Emelie Karlsson scored with two minutes and 44 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Barry past host Saint Leo 1-0.
GOLF: Florida shot 3-over par 291 in the final round of the Cleveland Intercollegiate in Tampa to finish eighth. USF shot a final-round 296 to finish 10th. ... Nova Southeastern and Lynn tied for first place with scores of 857 after the final round at the Spartan Invitational in Tampa. Host UT was sixth at 892.
TENNIS: V. Williams advances
Venus Williams defeated Russian qualifier Alina Jidkova 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. Elena Dementieva was one of four Russian players ranked in the Top 20 who advanced. Runner-up in the French and U.S. open, the fifth-seeded Dementieva beat Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-3. ... Olympic champion Nicolas Massu defeated Karol Kucera 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 at the CA Trophy tournament in Vienna, Austria.
ET CETERA
ARENA FOOTBALL: The Storm will have the 10th and 27th picks in Thursday's dispersal draft, during which players under contract with the defunct Indiana, Detroit and Carolina franchises will be available. Former FSU quarterback Adrian McPherson and ex-UF receiver Chris Doering are among the 29 players available.
- FRANK PASTOR, Times staff writer
GOLF: Tampa's Michael Walters advanced to the quarterfinals of the USGA Senior Amateur in Los Angeles, winning matches in the second and third rounds. Crystal River's Joseph Cristillo lost in the second round.
HORSES: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Bago won't run again this year, scuttling plans to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic in Texas on Oct. 30.
SAILING: Team New Zealand won the second pre-regatta for the 2007 America's Cup because it was ahead in the standings when the final day of racing was canceled due to light wind.
