In a further blow to Malcolm Glazer's plans for Manchester United, the former Premiership champions and a group of sportswear chains are to pay more than £16 million in fines for fixing the price of football shirts, the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled today.

Mr Glazer, the American sports tycoon, is midway through a bitter takeover battle as he attempts to buy the club for £790 million, despite strong opposition from many Manchester United fans.

Some fans groups have threatened to protest at Saturday's FA Cup final as well as refuse to renew their £600-a-year season tickets and to boycott club merchandise.

Earlier this week, the Premier League and European Commission separately moved, seemingly to block any possible moves for the Glazer-owned Manchester United to negotiate a television deal separate from the 19 other clubs in the English Premiership.

Now, even trade agreements over the sale of replica shirts appeared to be less lucrative than previously for the club's new owner.

Fines were originally imposed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) following an investigation into price-fixing of England and Manchester United shirts.

Sportswear chains JJB Sports, Umbro, Allsports and Manchester United appealed against the level of the Government watchdog’s fines, imposed in 2003.

Ruling on the decision today, the Competition Appeal Tribunal increased Allsports’ fine from £1.35 million to £1.42 million. The Tribunal reduced the other three appellants’ fines, saving Manchester United £150,000.

But the club will still have to pay £1.5 million in fines, plus interest from the date of the original ruling.

Sir John Vickers, the OFT chairman, welcomed the decision. "Anti-competitive agreements to fix the prices of replica kit exploited the loyalty of fans.

"The CAT has confirmed that such serious breaches of competition law call for penalties with serious deterrence."

Responding to the CAT’s decision, Umbro, which suffered the heaviest fine of all, said: "The original fine of £6.641 million was fully provided for in the 2004 accounts and is as disclosed in the Listing Particulars. The fine has been reduced by 20 per cent to £5.3 million plus interest."

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