Jordan would consider selling Palace to Quathafi
Saturday, 17 July 2004Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan would consider a takeover bid from Libyan leader Colonel Mu'ammar Quathafi. Although no formal approach has been made by the Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company (LAFICO) for the newly-promoted Premiership side, the government body Gadafy used to buy a stake in Juventus, Jordan has been made aware of his interest.
He told the Guardian: "I have been told that Quathafi and his son (Al-Saadi) are interested in acquiring Palace. Jordan added that "if they did, I would consider it".
Jordan did not believe that either FA or Premier League rules would prevent any move from LAFICO, but did accept that it would be controversial.
He added: "At the end of the day, many people might see Roman Abramovich's involvement at Chelsea as less than palatable, but he is moving the club forward. If Quathafi's money was able to progress Palace and allow them to compete at the top of the tree and be a successful football club, then one would have to take that into consideration."
With Quathafi and his son keen football enthusiasts, the sport has provided a bridge for the Libyan regime as it emerged from international isolation. Quathafi enjoyed a long friendship with Gianni Agnelli, head of the family which owns Juventus, for many years until the Italian died.
Al-Saadi was registered as a player at Perugia although he played only 15 minutes of first-team football until a failed drugs test kept him off the football pitch. Following the investment into Juventus, he sat on the Turin club's board and was able to persuade the Italian FA to hold the 2002 Italian Supercup in Tripoli with a sell-out crowd watching the match in the Libyan capital.
And there are already links with English with Middlesbrough playing in a friendly tournament against Bari and Tripoli side Al-Ittihad in Libya. Jordan, meanwhile, is looking for a way out of the game after seeing Palace promoted in May, an achievement which means the club is financially stable after years of struggling in the Football League.
The 36-year-old millionaire said: "I have achieved what I have set out to do.
I don't enjoy football any more."
Filed by Brendan Cole
