Gaddafi sets sights on Crystal Palace [British Soccer Club]

Reuters | July 17, 2004

[HAL9000]

LONDON (Reuters) - Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi could buy promoted premier league soccer club Crystal Palace, The Guardian says.

It said Gaddafi, who owns a 7.5 percent stake in Italian club Juventus, has not made an offer yet but has shown interest in the small south London club that surprisingly won the promotion playoffs in May.

"I've been told that Gaddafi and his son (Al-Saadi) are interested in acquiring Palace," the Guardian quoted the club's chairman Simon Jordan as saying.

Jordan said there had been no formal approach but if there was "I'd consider it ... If it's beneficial to the club it will be considered."

Having taken over the club four years ago when it was in administration and overseen a remarkable recovery capped by the team's unexpected promotion, Jordan has said he wants to quit but will only do so when the right buyer is found.

Jordan said there might be many people in Britain who would object to Gaddafi being involved in an English football club given the two countries' long enmity.

Ties between Britain and Libya warmed this year after the latter agreed to pay damages for the 1988 airliner bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people.

Jordan added, however, that "many people might see (Russian oil tycoon) Roman Abramovich's involvement at Chelsea as less than palatable but he is moving the club forward."

Palace last played in the premier league in 1998.