Man. United probe dressing room bugging

Manchester United are investigating a bugging incident at Old Trafford after audio tapes were offered to The Sun newspaper, the club's website said yesterday.

The tapes were apparently recorded in the home dressing room last Sunday, the day United beat champions Chelsea 1-0.

The contents reportedly include pre-match and half-time team-talks, plus celebratory comments following the victory, the website said.

The Sun handed the tapes to United on Friday before publishing details in yesterday's newspaper.

Phil Townsend, United's director of communications, said "We are grateful to The Sun for bringing this breach of security and privacy to our attention. We have launched our own investigation and if necessary will involve the police."

The Sun says an eavesdropper smuggled a radio transmitter into the dressing room and then tuned into the frequency, recording over two hours of conversation.

After the victory, United players are heard congratulating each other and defender Rio Ferdinand comments that the win will have silenced the team's critics. When Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is seen being interviewed on TV, shouts of abuse ring out, says The Sun.