DUBLIN, April 20 - One of Saddam Hussein's
lawyers, controversial advocate Giovanni di Stefano, is
considering investing over one million euros ($1.24 million) in
Irish football team Shelbourne FC, the club said on Thursday.
The Anglo-Italian lawyer, who also once worked on behalf of
former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, is reported to want
total control of the cash-strapped club if he gets the chance.
He will hold talks with Shelbourne next week.
Shelbourne chief executive Ollie Byrne told Reuters: "He
said he'd like a modest investment -- you could take it that
wasn't less than a million (euros)."
"If somebody asks for a meeting with you, you meet them as a
courtesy, but it doesn't mean you're getting into bed with
them," he added.
Di Stefano was unavailable to comment, but the Irish Daily
Mirror quoted him on Thursday saying: "I want to invest in
Shelbourne and make them a top club in the European Champions
League."
"If I got the opportunity for total control of Shelbourne, I
would take it," he added.
A Shelbourne spokesman said the meeting had been scheduled
for Monday at a Dublin hotel.
Di Stefano is one of the lawyers representing ousted Iraqi
president Saddam, who is on trial for crimes against humanity.