Would you be okay with state or state-backed ownership?

[Kag]

Not sure where my line is but it’s certainly around the club I love.

Would be disgusting to see a state own United.

States shouldn’t own football clubs at all, but they do. The game allowed that to happen a long time ago and here we are. I don’t like it; you don’t like it; nobody really likes it. I think asking where we all draw the line is relevant, though.

 

[Kag]

United is an integral part of my life and has been for years. I really have a deep emotional connection with the club and I don’t want to see them become a status symbol for a regime that has literal blood on their hands.

That’s a reasonable take. So, what do you do? Is the answer pretending as if football doesn’t exist and removing that small vehicle of joy from your life?

 

[Wumminator]

That’s a reasonable take. So, what do you do? Is the answer pretending as if football doesn’t exist and removing that small vehicle of joy from your life?

Nope, I’ll probably become involved with football at a smaller level. I have been helping run my Saturday league club for a while and one of my mates set up a team in Wythenshawe last year. I will miss the “big” moments but I much prefer the community aspect.

 

[troylocker]

Out of interest, would you quit your job if your place of work were to be taken over, or in part funded by, those with links to the Qatari regime?

Would you disown your children (if relevant to you) in the event they decided to seek pastures new out in the Middle East?

You must have a line in the sand somewhere?

If my company were bought by a dictatorship, or a familymember of a dictator, I would find somewhere else to work, yes.

My children would have to do a lot worse than that for me to abandon them. I hope I have given them a good set of values along the way though to make good decisions, so it’s a very unrealistic scenario. My children are the single most important thing in my life, a football club I support is not.
Supporting a football club is a choice.

I really can’t stand injustice and regimes where the powerholders cling to their unjustified power by killing/silencing any opposition and oppressing and silencing their nations people. By accepting their money we help them keep their positions and accept the freedom they rob their people of.

 

[DevilRed]

States shouldn’t own football clubs at all, but they do. The game allowed that to happen a long time ago and here we are. I don’t like it; you don’t like it; nobody really likes it. I think asking where we all draw the line is relevant, though.

They own half of London to be fair. That ship has sailed a long time ago.

 

[Lyng]

Its all a very personal matter and I dont think one should question how fellow United fans feel. I am certain noone here would leave United behind without it feeling like a massive loss.
Personally for me the Saudis would be my breaking point. Qataris I could live with. But again its personal and everyone will have to do what they feel best.
I am sure there will be United fans who will want nothing to do with Goldman Sachs.

 

[ROFLUTION]

Im not into football so I can give myself moral lessons, as long as its not cheating then I'm all in with any owner that will lead us to the very top. I dont know why the idea that some how the owner of the team must have some moral back ground is a must for some here.

its probably not. Its probably just that the owner should not be completely avoid of moral.

 

[adexkola]

Its all a very personal matter and I dont think one should question how fellow United fans feel. I am certain noone here would leave United behind without it feeling like a massive loss.
Personally for me the Saudis would be my breaking point. Qataris I could live with. But again its personal and everyone will have to do what they feel best.
I am sure there will be United fans who will want nothing to do with Goldman Sachs.

Yeah, everyone has their red line which should be respected

 

[Dr. StrangeHate]

Yeah, everyone has their red line which should be respected

For you that line is the legacy clubs.

 

[AndySmith1990]

I asked myself what football means to me and how it fits into my life. Do I want it to consume my life to the point the actions of the owners of the club I've supported for 35 years weigh heavy on my mind? Or do I want football to be light entertainment; just another form of escapism from the stresses of everyday life. Much like gaming or listening to an audio book. I decided on the latter. I simply want to watch football matches and be entertained for 90 minutes. I don't want to be thinking about heavy subjects and the atrocities that happen in other countries. That's my personal decision and my perogative and something I've decided I can live with

 

[adexkola]

For you that line is the legacy clubs.

You say legacy one time...

Actually I have 2 red lines:

1. If United were to participate in a closed Super League... I'm already uncomfortable with the vast inequality in the sport (whether "earned" or "doped" it's the same to me); making that official would just turn me off. I'm already a football fan first and foremost; I'd just start knocking off the list of cool derbies around the world to see before I die. I'd probably invent a new xG stat too, but for defenders

2. Being owned by an official of Israel. I couldn't support a club with links to an Apartheid regime.

 

[Salford_Red83]

I asked myself what football means to me and how it fits into my life. Do I want it to consume my life to the point the actions of the owners of the club I've supported for 35 years weigh heavy on my mind? Or do I want football to be light entertainment; just another form of escapism from the stresses of everyday life. Much like gaming or listening to an audio book. I decided on the latter. I simply want to watch football matches and be entertained for 90 minutes. I don't want to be thinking about heavy subjects and the atrocities that happen in other countries. That's my personal decision and my perogative and something I've decided I can live with

Same.

There's far too much going on in the World that I have no control over. And I've learned that I need to concentrate on what I can control and find joy in that.
One of those things is supporting United - I've lived in the shadow of Old Trafford all my life - so I will continue to support the club, because it brings me joy and has an influence on what I can control in my life.

 

[Ajr]

No, it's impossible to reconcile support of a club owned by murderers

 

[Wumminator]

You say legacy one time...

Actually I have 2 red lines:

1. If United were to participate in a closed Super League... I'm already uncomfortable with the vast inequality in the sport (whether "earned" or "doped" it's the same to me); making that official would just turn me off. I'm already a football fan first and foremost; I'd just start knocking off the list of cool derbies around the world to see before I die. I'd probably invent a new xG stat too, but for defenders

2. Being owned by an official of Israel. I couldn't support a club with links to an Apartheid regime.

I don’t know why “official” inequality would turn you off more than the hidden inequality now.

 

[justboy68]

I asked myself what football means to me and how it fits into my life. Do I want it to consume my life to the point the actions of the owners of the club I've supported for 35 years weigh heavy on my mind? Or do I want football to be light entertainment; just another form of escapism from the stresses of everyday life. Much like gaming or listening to an audio book. I decided on the latter. I simply want to watch football matches and be entertained for 90 minutes. I don't want to be thinking about heavy subjects and the atrocities that happen in other countries. That's my personal decision and my perogative and something I've decided I can live with

Yeah I've had that similar internal debate myself. Football on the whole has long left the station of what we all would like it to be in an ideal world. Just as we did with the Glazers we need to try to separate the owners from the club itself. I can live with Qatari owners as long as Manchester United themselves don't do anything reprehensible. Then will have to cross that bridge of walking away from the club once that happens.

 

[georgipep]

The best is still supporter-owned and -operated. But, it’s almost for sure impossible now.

Like Barcelona... That turned out great. No concerns about populist leaders taking over and leaving dumpster fires behind, huh?

 

[PizzaPlanet]

No. The first and probably only one of the four big European clubs to succumb to state sportwashing?

It will mean a terrible loss of prestige for the club.

 

[pocco]

Nope, I’ll probably become involved with football at a smaller level. I have been helping run my Saturday league club for a while and one of my mates set up a team in Wythenshawe last year. I will miss the “big” moments but I much prefer the community aspect.

Good on you if you do.

I'll probably give up my ST, which I've had for around 20 years now. Never in a million years did I think I'd feel this way, but the idea of one of these criminals owning our club as a play-thing, along with potential return of MG, has changed everything for me. Hearing that MG has been talking to ETH already has me prepared for the worst and that's it for me. Goodnight, Vienna!

 

[Seveneric]

Jeez guys. Sometimes I really do think you're on some kind of crazy crusade to change a broken world.

Romanticism at its finest.

They're at least trying to do something in their own little way. It's at least a "better" crusade than saying "well it's already broken, so I might as well not do anything, other than participate in the brokenness and try to make myself feel better by saying it's already broken anyway". What a wonderful place the world would be if we all behaved that way.

 

[DickDastardly]

It's at least a "better" crusade than saying "well it's already broken, so I might as well not do anything, other than participate in the brokenness and try to make myself feel better by saying it's already broken anyway". What a wonderful place the world would be if we all behaved that way.

Think globally, act locally.

All there's left.
Nothing i can do will change the world in a big scale.
Raise your kids right and hope for the best.

 

[Shakesy]

It's at least a "better" crusade than saying "well it's already broken, so I might as well not do anything, other than participate in the brokenness and try to make myself feel better by saying it's already broken anyway". What a wonderful place the world would be if we all behaved that way.

Are you one of those supporters who would stop supporting the team you love because of who owns it? And believe that your abandonment will somehow serve a greater purpose, especially if everyone else joins you? Remember, we're talking about fans who are just trying to survive in their own little corner of their world here. Fans who look to United to relieve their mundane existence.

Are you ready to abandon your club? Because that's who I was addressing that post to.

 

[eire-red]

If the Qatar links are said to be true, it's the best outcome for the club and the fans from a pure footballing perspective. I won't like it, but the scale of investment needed in terms of stadium, training facilities and recruitment to become a European powerhouse once more is beyond what a private investor can bring.

Ratcliffe would be nice, but I don't think he can compete with a Middle Eastern bid. Musk would be a complete disaster and potentially the ruination of the club.

At the end of the day, I'll still support United and watch every single match and visit OT as often as possible.

I don't like the idea of state ownership, but the reality is that the cat is already out of the bag with City, PSG and Newcastle. Those from the European Leagues will point in envy and say how unfair it is, and clamour for the ESL again, but I think it's so hypocritical for the likes of the Milan's and Juventus, Madrid and Barca to cry about the unfairness of the PL spending power. Their untouchable dominance in their countries has seen the death of their own leagues, and hence the lack of interest and investment.

 

[Hughes35]

More than Ok with it, I hope it happens.

In a perfect world, I'd love to be owned by a British, Utd fan who has hundreds of billions in the bank...... If that was a thing, they'd already own us.

 

[fps]

I would not. This would signal a further withdrawal from interest in football for me.

 

[Cloud7]

I asked myself what football means to me and how it fits into my life. Do I want it to consume my life to the point the actions of the owners of the club I've supported for 35 years weigh heavy on my mind? Or do I want football to be light entertainment; just another form of escapism from the stresses of everyday life. Much like gaming or listening to an audio book. I decided on the latter. I simply want to watch football matches and be entertained for 90 minutes. I don't want to be thinking about heavy subjects and the atrocities that happen in other countries. That's my personal decision and my perogative and something I've decided I can live with

After a lot of thinking, this is where I found myself at as well

 

[Strelok]

Are you one of those supporters who would stop supporting the team you love because of who owns it? And believe that your abandonment will somehow serve a greater purpose, especially if everyone else joins you? Remember, we're talking about fans who are just trying to survive in their own little corner of their world here. Fans who look to United to relieve their mundane existence.

Are you ready to abandon your club? Because that's who I was addressing that post to.

Abandon your club or no longer has a thing to relieve their mundane existence?

Tbh for me it's the later.

 

[Seveneric]

Are you one of those supporters who would stop supporting the team you love because of who owns it? And believe that your abandonment will somehow serve a greater purpose, especially if everyone else joins you? Remember, we're talking about fans who are just trying to survive in their own little corner of their world here. Fans who look to United to relieve their mundane existence.

Are you ready to abandon your club? Because that's who I was addressing that post to.

I'm of two minds about it, but I certainly won't be making fun of the people who are actually taking a stance by "abandoning the club", because unlike me (and you) they're taking a principled position. I don't think everyone else should have to join that position, but it's a lot more admirable than saying "it's already broken anyway" and not doing anything, because football. Fighting for something you believe in isn't always easy and sometimes involves depriving yourself to make your voice heard.

The people who are "abandoning" United are depriving themselves of following a club they love in furtherance of their ideals, that's commendable imo.

 

[adexkola]

I don’t know why “official” inequality would turn you off more than the hidden inequality now.

Because the idea of sporting merit is not completely extinguished. It's extremely difficult to get to the top organically, but there's enough of a chance. If the club i supported joined efforts to pull the ladder up officially, then yeah, what's the point? feck it.

 

[Wumminator]

Because the idea of sporting merit is not completely extinguished. It's extremely difficult to get to the top organically, but there's enough of a chance. If the club i supported joined efforts to pull the ladder up officially, then yeah, what's the point? feck it.

For me - it is completely extinguished.

 

[Skåre Willoch]

Not sure if I'm surprised really, but that's a lot more Qatar-friendly than I imagined.

Edit: This didn't include the results, sorry.

Qatar: 62,2%
Elon: 17,9%
Sir Jim Ratcliffe: 18,2%
Other: 1,8%

So Qatar winning the fan vote by a landslide

 

[redcucumber]

Being state backed definitely extinguishes any competitive sporting integrity. If Liverpool got bought out by the Saudis I'd feel the same towards their victories as I do towards City's now. Hollow and meaningless as feck. The idea that I would have to stop attending games is hard to even think about. It's all very conflicting.

 

[Shakesy]

I'm of two minds about it, but I certainly won't be making fun of the people who are actually taking a stance by "abandoning the club", because unlike me (and you) they're taking a principled position. I don't think everyone else should have to join that position, but it's a lot more admirable than saying "it's already broken anyway" and not doing anything, because football. Fighting for something you believe in isn't always easy and sometimes involves depriving yourself to make your voice heard.

The people who are "abandoning" United are depriving themselves of following a club they love in furtherance of their ideals, that's commendable imo.

I'm not making fun of people who choose to abandon the club. I'm saying they are hopeless romantics. If someone asked me now if the world would be a better place if it was run by romantics then I'd be all for it. The thing is, it isn't. It's filled with selfish, short-sighted people. I used to be a romantic, then I just gave up. Now I'm selfish and short-sighted.

I care about my family, my job, my dogs, my friends, my club. My own little world. I decide how I view what is important to me. Now, if someone says my club will be run by murderous dictators and that the game's gone they might be right. But in my little world, I decide what's right. I will find a way to be happy with whoever becomes our owner, as long as they treat my club with consideration. Feck the Glazers, all hail anyone who is willing to invest in one of the things that bring joy to my world.

Posters saying they're going to run off and support some other club have every right to do it. Let them stand up for their ideals! I don't care. On a forum, however, I will voice my own little selfish, short-sighted opinion because I want to. Your view is noble. Nice! Mine is realistic, because I choose to believe it - hence, it becomes real to me.

 

[Mockney]

I would probably phase out of caring so much… in the same way I phased out from being an obsessive 12 year old who’d cry when we lost. It’d be another little thing I care slightly less about if we were owned by a country. I would be less proud of the institution of Manchester United, and its success would mean less to me.

How much, we’ll have to wait and see I guess, but I sadly suspect a lot. There is no reason for a state to own a football club, that isn’t for it to act as a quasi-promotional arm of that state.

 

[sullydnl]

Even from a purely selfish POV, supporting United will be less fun if the club is constantly having (largely fair) criticism directed at it because of who its owners are. And more so again when fans then respond with the sort of stupid defences we've seen from City and Newcastle fans.

Even leaving aside all morals and ethics entirely, I just don't want that toxic noise around the club when I'm trying to enjoy football.

 

[VP89]

Not sure if I'm surprised really, but that's a lot more Qatar-friendly than I imagined.

Edit: This didn't include the results, sorry.

Qatar: 62,2%
Elon: 17,9%
Sir Jim Ratcliffe: 18,2%
Other: 1,8%

So Qatar winning the fan vote by a landslide

On The United Stand which is a channel for idiots

 

[Skåre Willoch]

On The United Stand which is a channel for idiots

For sure - I'll let you know when I find a poll from the smart fan accounts.

 

[DickDastardly]

Even from a purely selfish POV, supporting United will be less fun if the club is constantly having (largely fair) criticism directed at it because of who its owners are. And more so again when fans then respond with the sort of stupid defences we've seen from City and Newcastle fans.

Even leaving aside all morals and ethics entirely, I just don't want that toxic noise around the club when I'm trying to enjoy football.

Just out of curiosity, whose criticism are you worried about?

Who's gonna give you crap about the issue that the club you support has new, Qatari owners?
Mates? Family? Some banter between opposition fans?

 

[BerryBerryShrew]

I actually don't know if I would retain any interest at all. I've supported this club since I was a kid but at the same time, I'm not the sort of fan that the moneymen at the club would give two fecks about in the sense that I don't go to matches and I don't buy much merch- I catch all the matches I can on the box. For the season ticket holders, it is a much more difficult question. For me, it might be a case that I stop loving the club as much as I currently do- keep watching the games but not being overly happy when we win/score or overly morose when we lose/concede.

It may/may not affect my willingness to watch games, but it will adversely affect my feelings toward the club. I keep holding out hope that Sir Jim can come through, but it's going to be a tough ask to outbid an oil state.

I'm Irish, and a few if my friends support our local LOI team- that may well be what I will wind up doing.

If an oil state takes over, it will hurt though. I know the "woman" analogies are very RAWK, but it will either be like breaking up with a woman I loved due to her infidelity, or staying with her in spite of her cheating - even though you remain together, it's not the same as it was before the trust was broken. I just rememember being 9 years old and watching us sweep to the treble. Giggsy's FA Cup goal when we seemed to be on the rack against Arsenal. The adulation of those couple of minutes in the CL final.

I remember that Juventus were like a mythical creature- I had never seen them play but everyone spoke about them with fear and reverence. Buying Match and Shoot! magazines and reading all about Davids, Zidane, and Del Piero. Us beating them over two legs. Maybe what I remember most of all was how it felt to see Keane and Irwin - two local lads- come so very good. It just opened up a world of possibility to my juvenile eyes. Things were more magical and innocent then. I'm sad typing this because even through the morass of the last decade, the turbulence on and off the pitch, this still felt like my team, my club. I know that it's only a matter of time before I won't feel like that anymore.

 

[DickDastardly]

. I just rememember being 9 years old and watching us sweep to the treble. Giggsy's FA Cup goal when we seemed to be on the rack against Arsenal. The adulation of those couple of minutes in the CL final.

I remember that Juventus were like a mythical creature- I had never seen them play but everyone spoke about them with fear and reverence. Buying Match and Shoot! magazines and reading all about Davids, Zidane, and Del Piero. Us beating them over two legs. Maybe what I remember most of all was how it felt to see Keane and Irwin - two local lads- come so very good. It just opened up a world of possibility to my juvenile eyes. Things were more magical and innocent then. I'm sad typing this because even through the morass of the last decade, the turbulence on and off the pitch, this still felt like my team, my club. I know that it's only a matter of time before I won't feel like that anymore.

So, you think a 9 year old you would even know about the owners?
Did you know about the owners at the time?

Owners before the Glazers bought out most of the shares.
Some Irish lads, racehorse owners. Who eventually got into a legal bickering with Sir Alex about a horse. Would you think less of them if you knew that?

You're romaticizing about the "good old days" when you were nine years old and United was at the top of the game.
It was a lovely time to be a fan, i was about the same age around then.

My son is now 7.
Loves watching games with me.

You think he'll wreck his brain around who's the owner of Manchester United?

 

[Señor Sloppy]

Out of curiosity, has anyone in this thread actually physically spent prolonged periods out in the Middle East, or at least has some connection to the region through friends/family/etc.?