Man United fan group raises concerns over Qatari bid for club
Ash Donelon/Manchester United/Getty
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, 19th February 2023 (AFP) – One of Manchester United’s leading supporters’ groups warned on Sunday of a takeover of the club from a country where same-sex relationships are illegal.
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani has promised the English soccer giants a debt-free deal, while rumors persist of a possible Saudi Arabia takeover of the English soccer giant, which is being put up for sale by its controversial US owners The Glazer family.
Sheikh Jassim’s only publicly declared competitor for the Red Devils is Jim Ratcliffe.
Born in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, 70-year-old Ratcliffe is one of the UK’s richest people with an estimated net worth of £12.5 billion ($15 billion) following the success of his global chemicals company INEOS.
But his company’s stake in French Ligue 1 club Nice has also unnerved United fans.
Manchester United Supporters Trust, which shares the concerns of LGBTQ+ fan group Rainbow Devils, said on Sunday: “There are questions about sporting integrity given the exceptionally close ties between some bidders and the owners of other European clubs, including PSG and Nice. “
MUST urged all bidders to “open a dialogue” with fan groups, adding: “We also note the importance of each property owner respecting the rights of all people, especially women and the LGBTQ+ community. Concerns have been raised by other fan groups and we fully support it.”
Opinions were divided among United supporters, who AFP spoke to at Old Trafford ahead of a 3-0 home win over Leicester that put their side third in the Premier League table, and IT staffer Darren O’Donough said: “I think I like the fact that Jim Ratcliffe is Manchester, he was born and raised in Manchester.
“But the Qatari bid brings the club a lot of money, a lot of investment.”
The 44-year-old from Northern Ireland said concerns about Qatar’s human rights record would not be addressed “by keeping them at a distance”.
“I like that it (the application) will be debt free and that all profits will go back to the club, so that’s very appealing to me too.”
Dick Morden, 65, from Leicester, central England, said his preference was “Probably Ratcliffe because he’s English, but you don’t know.
“But Ratcliffe was (a) United (fan) as a Nipper (kid) so I’d rather have him.”
‘glasses out’
According to Sky, a successful bid from Ratcliffe would mean he owns 69 per cent of United, which is the Glazers’ stake, and they would no longer be involved if he had the majority.
The Glazers are loathed by many United fans for burdening the club with huge debts with their £790million takeover in 2005.
Ross Ingles, a 30-year-old project manager from Glasgow, was still concerned about Glazer’s residual involvement in a Ratcliffe regime.
“I want the Glazers out, so if there’s an option between 75 percent with Jim or 100 percent with the Qataris, it has to be the Qataris,” he added.
One of the most successful clubs in English football history, United have not won a trophy since 2017 and have struggled to keep up with bitter rivals Manchester City since legendary manager Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013.
But under new coach Erik ten Hag, who took over before the start of the current season, they have experienced a revival.
Steve Storrinot, a 59-year-old United fan from Coventry, said all will be well for the 20-time champions England and three-time King of Europe.
“We are Man United. We are the best club in the world. People forget that… we were on the slide. Now we climb and we will roar again.
“Do not worry about it. We are united – it is as simple as that. We are not going away.”