Manchester United get a new shirt sponsor

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TIME’s Adam Smith in London addresses the really big question: What does the financial crisis mean for soccer sponsorships?

Consider the line up: local bank and Newcastle United sponsor Northern Rock had to be nationalized in February after it was caught short of cash when the money markets seized; on Sep. 12, Britain’s third largest tour operator XL went bust leaving London club West Ham United without a shirt sponsor; and now insurance giant AIG, shirt sponsor at English and European club champions Manchester United, is teetering on the brink of collapse.

Now that AIG has been rescued, I’m really looking forward to the logo of its new owner, the Federal Reserve system, taking pride of place on those Man United shirts. Or maybe they could just read “USA.”