THE government has refused to intervene in the case of a Manchester United fan jailed in Italy for violent behaviour.

Michael Burk, of Little Hulton, was one of four fans locked up after being arrested in December following a clash between United and Roma fans.

Burk, 35, is due to appeal against his two-year five-month sentence next month and his MP, Barbara Keeley raised the issue in the Commons, urging Foreign Office ministers to intervene.

The Foreign Office minister Jim Murphy accepted there were concerns but said the government could not interfere with the appeal.

He said: "It will be frustrating, but it would be wrong for a government minister to say that they will interfere in a court proceeding in another country."

He said the Foreign Office would step in if there were complaints about ill-treatment.

"But we cannot seek preferential treatment on the basis of their nationality," said Mr Murphy.