Will US taxpayers fund Manchester United?

Intense public pressure across the Atlantic Ocean is urging AIG to not pay Manchester United the final £14million instalment of a lucrative sponsorship package. The Red Devils are effectively sponsored by the Barack Obama administration after the insurance giant was subject to a £125billion rescue package from the US government and effectively nationalised.

United are waiting on the final £14million payment of the £56.5million shirt sponsorship deal with AIG.

The recession hit the firm hard and bosses were forced to rely on a government bail-out.

Reports claim that sections of the American public have been left outraged after it emerged that taxpayer's money was used to pay big-money bonuses to executives - and public funds could now be used to fund the remainder of the AIG's sponsorship package with the European champions.

Democrat representative Ann Kirkpatrick said: "Paying excessive bonuses to executives with taxpayer funds was unacceptable and it is equally unacceptable for US taxpayers' money to go to support an English soccer club."

United's deal with AIG expires at the end of the 2009/2010 season.