A COUNCILLOR who supports Blackburn Rovers has urged the Liberal Democrats to try to block the takeover of Manchester United by Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB, for fear it could damage his Ewood Park favourites' future.

Tim Farron, the South Ribble councillor and Euro-election hopeful for the North West, fears that once Mr Murdoch moves in, commercial media interests will take over soccer and try to squeeze out less fashionable clubs.

He is trying to get the party conference in Brighton to debate the merger and wants the leadership to demand it is referred to the the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

Mr Farron, who comes from Blackburn, wants all major sporting events listed to stop them being bought up by satellite and pay-TV. He also called for an independent regulator with legal teeth for football and other major sports to protect the interests of spectators, players and the wider public.

He said the European Commission should investigate the wider implications of the media invasion of sport across the continent.

Coun Farron said: "My main concern is that Rupert Murdoch will be on both sides of the table in negotiating TV rights. He will be selling the product and purchasing it at the same time.

"Half a million people watch soccer every week. It's an issue of basic competition in a national sport which is of importance to people.

"Other wealthy men have taken over clubs but they, like Jack Walker at Blackburn, have shown passion for the game.

"Nobody knows what Mr Murdoch wants to do and he could use the position of power to asset-strip the club."

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