ACTUAL POLL thread - how do you feel about potential Qatari ownership?

How do you feel about Qatari ownership

  • Total voters
    1,893
I absolutely hate the fact that we are (probably) being sold to Qatar investment fund, I’ve always been proud that we have had all this success without all this help from a rich owner. But let’s face it, sportwashing is already a huge part of football and other sports and unfortunately it looks like they are just starting. Not only with foreign ownership but also with sponsorship and sporting events etc. There are very few individuals able to buy a club as big as Manchester United so an arab ownership was always likely if the Glazers would ever sell the club.
If the new owner will not break any financial rules and let the club run by itself as it is fully capable of the I think we have dodged a bullet. L
I really don’t like it, but I guess we will have to live with it.
Feck me I thought I would be happier than this when the Glazers eventually would sell the club.
 
Dion said:
They left because they were roundly criticised by every other group.

And it might be a matter of personal perception, but that doesn't mean reality doesn't have a massive influence over perception. What's your perception of Lance Armstrong? OJ Simpson? Man City?
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Without getting too philosophical, the reality that we're talking about here is the closeness of the link between football club and owner i.e. does a football club automatically imbibe all the key points of its ownership or can you still distinguish between the two entities thus support one but not the other? I believe it's the latter, therefore the realities you're alluding to are irrelevant.
 
Señor Sloppy said:
Without getting too philosophical, the reality that we're talking about here is the closeness of the link between football club and owner i.e. does a football club automatically imbibe all the key points of its ownership or can you still distinguish between the two entities thus support one but not the other? I believe it's the latter, therefore the realities you're alluding to are irrelevant.
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It's not about what the club imbibes or otherwise. It's about what owning the club says about the power and acceptance that the owner of the club has despite his views. This is just another slap in the face to LGBT people of seeing oppressive nations embraced and accepted because they can throw money around.
 
My personal opinion is that being owned by state-backed means we might see the sport to be involved with some political in the future and I just wish we can stay away from it. And then I also hope they aren’t planning to do what PSG did by signings superstars that don’t fit as one team. On top of that, if there is some future massive issue with Qatar, there is likely chance that it will be very difficult of Man United to ever be sold again.

However, the most important for me is about planning and vision. Qatar shows a clear planning and vision of what they want to do with man united that can benefit the club for example the idea of developing the stadium. On contrary other candidates who want to buy man united have no clear planning and vision. That’s why I think Qatar is the most suitable buyers and it’s not even closed when you compare to others.
 
UNITED ACADEMY said:
My personal opinion is that being owned by state-backed means we might see the sport to be involved with some political in the future and I just wish we can stay away from it. And then I also hope they aren’t planning to do what PSG did by signings superstars that don’t fit as one team. On top of that, if there is some future massive issue with Qatar, there is likely chance that it will be very difficult of Man United to ever be sold again.

However, the most important for me is about planning and vision. Qatar shows a clear planning and vision of what they want to do with man united that can benefit the club for example the idea of developing the stadium. On contrary other candidates who want to buy man united have no clear planning and vision. That’s why I think Qatar is the most suitable buyers and it’s not even closed when you compare to others.
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Another way of looking at it is that United's brand and global credibility would be affixed to the credibility of the nation of Qatar. If they happen to crack down on dissent internally during an uprising whilst owning United (or the like), it would be our reputation that would get dragged through the mud. But hey, its a small price to pay if we can get Mbappe.

Bottom line - sport and politics would always be inherently intertwined if a state owned (even if they deny it) entity were to gain control of United.
 
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The_Order said:
Well, I've had a think. While I care about human rights and the sort, my football escapism is just far more important. So I'll throw up some whatabouterry about eating meat and driving cars to create a false equavelence fallacy to excuse my silent compliance with blood-soaked regime.

A lot of people will feel it's out of their hands. And maybe it is. These are powerful forces beyond our control. But we as individuals have choices in how we act and what we do.

State ownership will cost us far more than anything the Glazers ever did.


So its a NO from me, Clive.
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Doubt it will cost more we are just gonna be successful but not in the right moral way for many which inevitably will lead to people walking away from club.
 
Whoever buys the club, it looks like the Glazers are on their way out. That’s some reprieve surely
 
Not sure why anyone is bringing a countries views on the LGBT side of things into this conversation. That’s in their country. There’s a massive issue with abortion in America and I’ve not seen that mentioned once given that we have American owners. There is always going to different feelings and views regarding many subjects across different countries.

This is a football business deal. Those issues are not going to be involved with the club just because of where the potential new owners are from. Isn’t that a bit like not heating your home or cooking your food using the gas that comes from there for the same reasons.
 
Ajr said:
I dont know how you can have no reservations about the club being owned by murderous scumbags
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Bantering opposition fans and a sense of glory is just more important.

One thing this saga has taught me about United fans is that we're no better than city or Newcastle fans. Reading this thread watching the socials, our fans might be worse, they know the price of such ownership not only do they genuinely not care or have any empathy they feel wholly entitled to the gas money.

It's also funny watching the same people who rightfully condemn Greenwood and want him out of the club in the same breathe twerjking for Qatari money.

Psychotic hypocrites.
 
Rhyme Animal said:
Correct. Man Utd doesn’t even NEED financial doping, that’s what’s so sad about it.

Like watching a beautiful woman whore herself out to a repulsive, cruel sugar daddy but then realising that she’s already incredibly wealthy in her own right and doesn’t even need to be doing it.

It’ll be a sad, sad day not just for Man Utd, but for football if this happens.
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And the biggest tragedy is that once this beautiful women has married the cruel sugar daddy, there is no possibility of divorce. They have you for life.
 
So for those who wanted Glazers out but no want Sir Jim. Is it a case to say you really didn’t care about United being in debt and leeched.
 
Wrecking ralf said:
Not sure why anyone is bringing a countries views on the LGBT side of things into this conversation. That’s in their country. There’s a massive issue with abortion in America and I’ve not seen that mentioned once given that we have American owners. There is always going to different feelings and views regarding many subjects across different countries.

This is a football business deal. Those issues are not going to be involved with the club just because of where the potential new owners are from. Isn’t that a bit like not heating your home or cooking your food using the gas that comes from there for the same reasons.
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Different feelings on different subjects should maybe include things like naming rights for the stadium rather than whether LGBT should be persecuted for just being themselves.

The Glazers haven't been directly involved in the United States Government policy on abortion. That's the difference.
 
Mainoldo said:
So for those who wanted Glazers out but no want Sir Jim. Is it a case to say you really didn’t care about United being in debt and leeched.
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Maybe some things are more important to people than United winning trophies that would be tainted anyway.
 
Mainoldo said:
What is more important than football when referring to a football club?
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That is probably the best question in the thread.

This whole ownership thing is blown way out of proportion. Personally, I have never had any issue with oil money. The only issue is that it is unfair to other clubs, not the ownership itself.

If you care so much about human rights, maybe make an effort to improve the situation beyond not watching ME owned club football.

It would be different if ME owners bled us dry like Glazers for profit. This is clearly not the case. They have every intention to make the club successful, just as we want.
 
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Wumminator said:
This is where I think I differ, why would you not care about human rights? Especially when the money you pump into your football club goes to a country that oppresses those rights?
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What money exactly? You are assuming that they will take huge dividends that will be reinvested into oppressing people. It's a false narrative.

If anything, we take money from an 'oppressive country' and advance a club that is much loved by lots of people, Muslims included.

Never said I don't care about human rights. Supporting or not supporting a club is just not the right media or channel for me to manifest my views.
 
Jacob said:
What money exactly? You are assuming that they will take huge dividends that will be reinvested into oppressing people. It's a false narrative.

If anything, we take money from oppressive countries and advance a club that is much loved by lots of people, Muslims included.
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My money I consistently spend on getting tickets and United pies.
 
Jacob said:
Which you would've spent anyhow. That money ultimately goes to reinvesting in the club, the stadium, transfers etc.
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I don’t want my money in any way going to a regime that has blood on its hands or oppresses vulnerable minorities. it is not money I will spend anyhow as I will simply stop going if Qatar take over.
 
Wumminator said:
I don’t want my money in any way going to a regime that has blood on its hands or oppresses vulnerable minorities. it is not money I will spend anyhow as I will simply stop going if Qatar take over.
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I don't have a problem with that at all. I'm just saying that your money doesn't necessarily go to them if they reinvest everything into the club, unlike the Glazers.

Having said that, have you done your research on how the Glazers spent their money? I'm sure they did deals with ME.
 
Qatar will spend big. He will build a bigger and better stadium, he will invest heavily in the team, pay off the debts, invest in the facilities including the womens team. He will make the area around old Trafford a wonderland as Gary Neville put it. He will invest so much money into the club it will make your head spin. No more dividends and debt!

part of me thinks, this club deserves it. It’s been neglected for years, is falling apart, behind other clubs which it shouldn’t be.. we have sat in the shadows for 10 years and watched the blue side of the city absolutely dominate English football. We have seen liverpool win the league in this era. It’s been pretty painful what’s happened to this club and it has to change. We can build a stadium with more seating meaning more fans can go to games, we can go bigger and better than anything this country has seen.

will ratcliffe put the same level into the club? I’m not sure.

But despite all this, still something just feels abit dirty about it. Damn.
 
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…an Emir from Qatar.

If it’s between this and Jimmy, which it seems to be, I prefer this by far.

The main guy seems to be an actual United fan which is nice. Unlike Jim who has a Chelsea season ticket.

In an ideal world no club would be owned by a state but seeing as that ship has sailed, my personal take is we should just make the best of it. No point shooting ourselves in the foot.

Sounds like they’re willing to come in, clear the debt, invest in the stadium, invest in the wider community. They’ve said they wouldn’t be interested in profiting from the club (they have no need to) whereas with almost any other owner that wouldn’t be the case.

I genuinely think basically any company/group with billions at its disposal isn’t going to be squeaky clean.

There’s obviously a lot to dislike about the way Qatar does things in their country.

However, hand on heart, do I believe buying Man Utd will make change more or less likely back in Qatar?

I’d say the former option for sure. I’m not saying they’ll become Denmark the second they buy us domestic policy wise, but I think if owning us has any impact at all (it probably won’t) it would more likely be in favour of modernisation.

Tldr - Qatar are far from perfect, but then again no potential owners are. I personally accept they’re the best realistic option at the moment.
 
Wumminator said:
My money I consistently spend on getting tickets and United pies.
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That money will go to the club though. It is highly unlikely that Qatar will take money out of United, and very likely that they will put their own money to pay the debt, build a new stadium (or improve OT), and probably invest in the squad.

In any case if you stop going, someone else will take your spot to matches. The waiting list is long enough that it won’t have any affect at all if some fans make United of Manchester 2.0 and stop following United.
 
Gurtej said:
I watched this interview…. Absolutely useless concerns….These guys have nothing to do with their time and come and make these useless statements….

We don’t want an owner from a country that doesn’t respect LGBT community….but we are ok to have funding and owner from two countries that are directly responsible for killing of 1000’s of innocent people in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries….

Like I said, the media bias against Middle East is next level….freaking west, think everyone else is wrong and unethical when their sheer base is build on killing and looting millions of people across multiple countries
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This line of argumentation is known as a false equivalence - most likely a desperate attempt at playing a race or islamophobia card.
Stop it.

The Glazers don'trepresent the US government nor are they their emissaries.

The argument is not about middle east owners, but about state ownership. I'd it were some random rich guy from Qatar, it wouldn't be a problem.

No nation state should own our football club. Currently, none does. So stop muddying the waters with intellectual dishonesty.
 
Wrecking ralf said:
Not sure why anyone is bringing a countries views on the LGBT side of things into this conversation. That’s in their country. There’s a massive issue with abortion in America and I’ve not seen that mentioned once given that we have American owners. There is always going to different feelings and views regarding many subjects across different countries.

This is a football business deal. Those issues are not going to be involved with the club just because of where the potential new owners are from. Isn’t that a bit like not heating your home or cooking your food using the gas that comes from there for the same reasons.
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Of course it's a problem, regardless of what goes on anywhere else. Where opinions differ is what the appropriate solution to that problem is.
 
Wumminator said:
This is where I think I differ, why would you not care about human rights? Especially when the money you pump into your football club goes to a country that oppresses those rights?
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The money will go back to the club helping to rebuild Man Utd. In fact, the new owner pledges billions of his own money to rebuild the club after it was let to rot by Glazers.
 
Gurtej said:
What is this nonsense about human rights issue…

It’s their culture and you don’t have to adopt their practices for god sake…

In USA, they banned abortion across 13 states…I hear no problem from media given SJR bid is supported by US banks….

Every investor individual or regime comes with a baggage and no one is without some scars, but the sheer bias against middleeast
Is so apparent….

West believes that their view of the world is the only correct view and everyone else is wrong….

I am no Middle East fan, but seriously I am not the one to judge them…. I have my flaws like everyone else. Hypocrisy here is next level…
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I don't see how it's hypocritical or displaying bias to judge the government of a country given their record on human rights, specifically their treatment of women, migrant workers and the LGBT community. What flaws do you have that even come close to making that statement true?

Banks don't make laws so it's a false equivalence to somehow tie them to the law-makers in several American states and try to claim that we should be up in arms about that in the same way. If the American govt were trying to buy United I wouldn't be happy about it but you still couldn't tie them to abortion legislation at a state level in any case.
 
Dion said:
We're not, the people of Qatar are though.

If we were lauding offers from governor's of states which banned abortion then you'd have a point. We aren't so you don't. I don't want the US or UK government to own Man Utd either.

And sorry, but homophobia is wrong. In any culture and any country. There's no debate about that. Not judging homophobic behaviour is not some enlightened tolerance, it's self-serving cowardice.
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It’s not a state offer, it’s an individual offer.
Now you will say everything is connected but so is the case for any regime….

And plz don’t forget in UK slavery was perfectly justified not too long ago, in US we all know how blacks and red indians were treated not so long ago…

Reg
The_Order said:
This line of argumentation is known as a false equivalence - most likely a desperate attempt at playing a race or islamophobia card.
Stop it.

The Glazers don'trepresent the US government nor are they their emissaries.

The argument is not about middle east owners, but about state ownership. I'd it were some random rich guy from Qatar, it wouldn't be a problem.

No nation state should own our football club. Currently, none does. So stop muddying the waters with intellectual dishonesty.
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It’s not Qatar state who is bidding. So now you should not have a problem. Thank you very much!
 
Gurtej said:
It’s not a state offer, it’s an individual offer.
Now you will say everything is connected but so is the case for any regime….

And plz don’t forget in UK slavery was perfectly justified not too long ago, in US we all know how blacks and red indians were treated not so long ago…

Reg


It’s not Qatar state who is bidding. So now you should not have a problem. Thank you very much!
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Uk slavery was banned.. not so long ago?!?
 
Gurtej said:
It’s not a state offer, it’s an individual offer.
Now you will say everything is connected but so is the case for any regime….

And plz don’t forget in UK slavery was perfectly justified not too long ago, in US we all know how blacks and red indians were treated not so long ago…

Reg


It’s not Qatar state who is bidding. So now you should not have a problem. Thank you very much!
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Again with the intellectual dishonesty

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is a member of the royal Qatari Royal Family which is an absolute monarchy.

You lot really will bend reality to your will.
 
Gurtej said:
It’s not a state offer, it’s an individual offer.
Now you will say everything is connected but so is the case for any regime….

And plz don’t forget in UK slavery was perfectly justified not too long ago, in US we all know how blacks and red indians were treated not so long ago…

Reg


It’s not Qatar state who is bidding. So now you should not have a problem. Thank you very much!
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You can't seriously think this is an independent businessman. As I said before anyone who believes that, and very few do, are either naive or being disingenuous:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...chester-United-theyre-not-fooling-anyone.html
 
Wumminator said:
This is where I think I differ, why would you not care about human rights? Especially when the money you pump into your football club goes to a country that oppresses those rights?
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Bro if you love eating animals you literally spend your money to help kill them.

I mean what is this. Get a grip and look after your family if you have one.

These narratives are beyond pathetic now.
 
I think I fall into the camp, where they wouldn't be ideal owners, but in the end they will likely be the best thing for United itself. Out of the two options so far, they clearly have a better vision for the club going forward.
 
Withnail said:
It's pathetic to care about human rights? Your post is pathetic mate.
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Fake outrage is pathetic made. Don’t bother all this with me.

Those who care about human rights are out there actively doing things about it. I care for the rights of humans but I’m not a hypocrite so I will never claim to be doing anything or be investing any of my time on it.

Might sound harsh but that’s reality. I can guarantee you 50% of the people on here bringing it up do nothing in their day to day lives that show their fears. Take it further if there was a human rights March on today at 2. I wonder how many would give up watching United to go.

You seemed touchy about my comment. What do you do for human rights?
 
I'm absolutely disgusted with this and will have to seriously consider following another team. It's a shame, I fecking love United but some things are more important.
 
DRJosh said:
Whoever buys the club, it looks like the Glazers are on their way out. That’s some reprieve surely
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That's how I am viewing it.
Glazers have created a losing structure. Proven failures.
The only reason we won while SAF was in place, was because of SAF. The moment he left, the true reality of the club was exposed.
Need to get rid of Glazers.
 
Gurtej said:
It’s not a state offer, it’s an individual offer.
Now you will say everything is connected but so is the case for any regime….

And plz don’t forget in UK slavery was perfectly justified not too long ago, in US we all know how blacks and red indians were treated not so long ago…

Reg


It’s not Qatar state who is bidding. So now you should not have a problem. Thank you very much!
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@city-puma another example. I think you owe @Withnail an apology.
 
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