Whether you're a fan of world-class soccer or a world-class riot, many interested eyes should be cast at 4 p.m. (local time) on Saturday, May 21 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, England. That's when Arsenal (36-13-6) is due to meet Manchester United (34-15-10) in an FA Cup Final that could be the staging point of a massive demonstration by Man U. supporters.

The madness and mayhem that surrounds the pitch this Saturday could have less to do with the rivalry between the Premier League foes than the rivalry between The Love and The Money. The catalyst of this potential brouhaha: the takeover of Manchester United, the worlds most profitable and recognizable sports franchise, by Malcolm Glazer, the 76-year-old American businessman who currently owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"We won't do anything that endangers safety, but they may have to draft in the army to police the match," said Oliver Houston, vice chairman of Shareholders United, a group of anti-Glazer Man U. fans, in published reports. "The suggestions range from sheer pandemonium, to hurling thousands of beach balls on the pitch, to a Gandhi-esque protest of people just walking onto the field and sitting down."

But don't be fooled. In a sport infamous for the unruly behavior of its fans, if Something Goes Wrong this group of hooligans could end up making Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest look like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

Any disruption would mark the most overt manifestation of what has been a deep, broad feeling of discontent by English soccer fans over the situation. In a flurry of activity over the last week, Glazer went from "lurking" with a 28.1 percent share in the team to "ruling" the organization by amassing a total of 74.81 percent overall stock. Reports out of England on Monday stated that over the weekend Glazer had purchased the 76 percent he needed take the company off the London Stock Exchange and into private ownership.

Essentially, it's like if the Packers, the NFL's only publicly owned franchise, were to be bought out by some Russian oil czar who thought Lombardi was something off an Olive Garden menu. It wouldn't be illegal or unjust, but it just wouldn't feel right. And to these football-crazed Brits, Glazer - who has made failed bids to purchase Conrail and Harley-Davidson, and once took his five sisters to court over their mother's will - represents the same manner of capitalist swine that brought us the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Chicago Bears Football presented by Bank One. Only this is worse, given that support for the 127-year-old Manchester United Soccer Club surpasses the fervor of Red Sox fans, Jeff Gordon haters, Bush Republicans, Cowboys fans and the Branch Davidians combined.

Besides bad karma, the fans' practical concerns center on an overview of Glazer's formal bid for Man U's remaining shares, and his plan for financing it. Under the reported $1.9 billion deal, the Glazer family would pay only $92.5 million (about 6 percent) in cash, and would contribute its original 28.1 percent of stock, worth roughly $411 million. Banks and other investors led by JPMorgan Chase & Co. would chip in the rest.

Red Devils fans are worried that since Glazer is incurring such phenomenal debt (the American Way) he'll look to recoup his investment by "maximizing earning potential." And since as the private owner of the company he wouldn't have to seek shareholder approval, they're concerned that he's either going to: A) raise ticket prices, sell the naming rights to Old Trafford Stadium (think Yankee Stadium) and supersaturate the team and everything associated with it with corporate branding, or B) collapse his personal debt onto the team and touch off a fire sale of players, coaches and resources.

Incidentally, the value of Tampa Bay's franchise has tripled from the $192 million that Glazer put up for the team in 1995. He and his associates transformed the perennial laughingstock to Super Bowl champions in 2003, but Buccaneer faithful still have mixed feelings about Glazer, who has raised ticket prices every year and promptly dissected the championship team's nucleus.

In the end, a fan's ownership of their team goes beyond the paper that a share is printed on. You have to feel for Man U. fans because you wouldn't like it if some carpetbagger not only tried to join your favorite team's clubhouse, but buy it and turn it into condos. However, sympathy only goes so far these days. And while some fans may boycott wearing their Roy Keane jerseys to The Theatre of Dreams or think twice about pummeling some arrogant Chelsea fan, I don't think that this is cause to jump off the London Bridge.

Arsenal versus Manchester United, FA Cup Final
Saturday, May 21 at Millennium Field in Cardiff, England.
Arsenal (+140), Manchester United (+155), Draw (+210).

The big news this week for the FA Cup Final was that Arsenal would be without the services of Thierry Henry when taking the field for its fifth title game in the last six years. The Premier League's leading scorer with 25 goals, Thierry is suffering from a sore Achilles injury that has hampered him for weeks.

That is not a good sign for the Gunners, who despite finishing ahead of Manchester United in the standings this season lost to the Red Devils three times. However, Arsenal is 6-0-0 in its last six home games and 4-0-2 in its last six away games, and is still a slight favorite in European books for this FA Cup Final.

Arsenal has been dealing with their own off-field drama lately. There has been the ongoing speculation over whether team leader Dennis Bergkamp will be offered a new contract after the game, as well as the tampering hearings going on in regards to Ashley Cole, a fullback who allegedly made illegal contact with rival Chelsea officials back in February.

Manchester United, which finished third in the Premier League behind Chelsea and Arsenal, dominated Newcastle 4-1 in the semifinals, and crushed Southampton 4-0 in the quarterfinals. They are at full strength, led by American goalie Tim Howard, leading scorer Wayne Rooney and Irish captain Roy Keane.

Another x-factor in this meeting of the two most successful teams in FA Cup history is Sir Alex Ferguson. Man U's beloved coach owns the record for both FA Cup title wins (5) and FA Cup championship appearances (7).

Final Analysis for the FA Cup Final: In what promises to be an emotional rematch of last year's semifinal (a 1-0 Man U. win), it will be interesting to see how the drama swirling off the pitch will effect the teams. Manchester seems more likely to be distracted by any mass demonstration by their fans, and Arsenal may rally without their leading scorer. But Manchester United has won the last three meetings between the clubs, including twice by two goals, and should overpower the Thierry-less Gunners for a win in the FA Cup Final.

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