Soccer fans upset by bin Laden sale plan

NEWCASTLE, England, July 7 (UPI) -- Some fans of England's Newcastle United soccer team have objected to plans to sell the team to relatives of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

The bin Laden family members -- who own a Saudi Arabian building firm and disowned the terrorist leader before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States -- are preparing to pay United owner Mike Ashley more than $600 million for the team, The Sun reported Monday.

Team supporters, who refer to themselves as the Toon Army, reacted negatively to the news.

"It's disgusting, an absolute joke. But it's up to Mike Ashley," said Frank Gilmour of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters' Association. "Will he really be prepared to sell the club to the family of a terrorist?"

Other fans expressed similar sentiments.

"A few weeks back Ashley was wearing the strip and buying drinks for people in bars around the Toon," said Joseph Currey, 37. "Now it seems he doesn't care who he sells to as long as the money is right."