Sunday, July 20, 2025
Today's News
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Today's News

Manchester United Q&A: could Qatari investors realistically buy the club?

Manchester United Q&A: could Qatari investors realistically buy the club?

The Emir of Qatar wants purchasing United, yet there are vital obstacles to a bargain– including Uefa’s possession policies

Are United about to have Qatari owners?

According to the Daily Mail on Wednesday, a team of “specific Qatari capitalists” will imminently bid to buy Manchester United, the 20-times champions of England. The Qatari offer, the Mail asserted, would certainly “blow the competition out of the water”. Qatari interest in United has actually been validated by the Guardian, with Jamie Jackson reporting that the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim container Hamad al-Thani, has an interest in buying the club. Nevertheless, he will certainly not be blowing anybody out of the water and also rather thinks a ₤ 4.5 bn appraisal of United is fair, which is under the ₤ 6bn figure the Glazer household, that have owned United considering that 2005, are supposedly after.

How likely is the bid to become reality?

It depends on whether there is one Qatari bid or two. No person on the Qatari side denies that the Gulf state is checking out financial investment chances in football beyond possession of Paris Saint-Germain as well as a risk in Portuguese side SC Braga. Mansoor container Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, the chief executive of the Qatari Financial Investment Authority (QIA), the nation’s sovereign riches fund, confirmed as much at Davos last month. “You will certainly not be amazed if we invest in this [football],” he claimed. England is of particular rate of interest yet whether United is the right club and a complete takeover the right deal remains to be seen. Naughty resources also recommend information of Qatari rate of interest could have appeared since the Glazers are having problem selling the club and also seeking to flush out quotes.

Who else is in the race to buy United?

With the Glazers having actually set a self-imposed deadline of mid-February for preliminary deals, there is presently simply one in the public domain name. Ineos, the petrochemical and also fracking large had by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a lifelong United follower as well as UK tax obligation expatriation, revealed last month that it had “formally place ourselves right into the procedure”. There have actually been rumours of rate of interest from United States investment groups, with the company Sixth Street reported to be thinking about a minority risk in the club. In a statement Sixth Street, which has actually moneyed monetary restructuring at Real Madrid and also Barcelona, stated it was “not wanting to purchase Manchester United as well as … not in any kind of active conversations to do so.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Could there be a problem with Uefa?

If as well as when a proposal of Qatari provenance achieves success in acquiring United, there will undeniably be concerns to respond to. Most importantly, Uefa will need to determine whether the proprietors of United are accordingly unique from the proprietors of PSG so regarding prevent a threat of showing off collusion should both face each various other in European competitors. Uefa regulations state: “No individual or lawful entity may have control or influence over greater than one club joining a Uefa club competition.” The controling body defines control as holding a majority share in a club, the capability to appoint or remove elderly participants of staff or “being able to work out by any type of suggests a crucial impact in the decision-making of the club”. It’s this last clause that would seem most considerable.

Is there a way around the problem?

PSG are possessed by Qatar Sports Financial Investment (QSI), which would certainly not have the ability to acquire anything greater than a minority stake in United. However QSI remains in turn moneyed by QIA as well as if an additional firm under the QIA umbrella, say the Qatar National Financial Institution, were to make a bid it is feasible the same limitations would not apply. These would certainly be hard factors to consider for Uefa as well as its Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) to make. A feasible precedent can be located in the choice to permit Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig to both play in the 2017-18 Champions League. Both sides are owned by the power drink supplier, Red Bull GmbH, and Uefa detectives found the business exerted a strong impact over both clubs. Nonetheless, the CFCB found there was not nearly enough grounds to believe there was influence running between both clubs after certain participants of team linked to Red Bull and car loan plans between the teams had been removed.

So a Qatari takeover of United is doable?

Never ever say never ever in football, and for completion, it must be noted that Nasser al-Khelaifi, president of PSG as well as QSI chair, remains on the executive committee of Uefa and was explained by Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa’s head of state, as “a fantastic man” who respects “football as well as its worths” after PSG resisted the alarm telephone call of the European Super Organization. Ceferin gave thanks to Khelaifi “from the bottom of my heart” for taking that stance.

Last Updated:  09 February 2023

INTERVIEW

Celebrities
In case you missed it

Top picks from The Times, recommended for you

Culture & Life Style
10 Best Bronzers for an Instant Sun-Kissed Glow
19 Jul 2025
10 Best Bronzers for an Instant Sun-Kissed Glow
Find the perfect bronzer for your skin tone and achieve a radiant, natural glow year-round. Looking for that effortless, sun-kissed glow without stepping into the sun? The right bronzer can…
READ MORE
If You Enjoy Dry Brushing, You’ll Really Like This
If You Enjoy Dry Brushing, You’ll Really Like This
If you’re already a fan of dry brushing — that…
READ MORE
Bar Leone in Hong Kong Named Best Bar in Asia for 2025
Bar Leone in Hong Kong Named Best Bar in Asia for 2025
The list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars for 2025 has…
READ MORE
Las Vegas Sands Invests $8 Billion in New Singapore Hotel Project
Las Vegas Sands Invests $8 Billion in New Singapore Hotel Project
Las Vegas Sands is investing $8 billion in Singapore to…
READ MORE
5 Foods With More Protein Than Eggs
5 Foods With More Protein Than Eggs
Eggs are often hailed as the gold standard for protein.…
READ MORE
Entertainment
‘Street-Level’ MCU Spider-Man Is Now Fully Confirmed
‘Street-Level’ MCU Spider-Man Is Now Fully Confirmed
Fans have been hoping for a while that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the MCU would…
Why Las Vegas Casinos Stay Away from Cannabis
Why Las Vegas Casinos Stay Away from Cannabis
Tourism on the Las Vegas Strip is lower this year, but allowing weed use isn’t…
Smart Investment Tips Amid Changing Economic Conditions
Smart Investment Tips Amid Changing Economic Conditions
In a world of fluctuating markets and unpredictable economic shifts, investors must adapt their strategies…
The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In June 2025
The 10 Best New Movies On Netflix In June 2025
Netflix continues to dominate the entertainment scene with a seemingly endless library of films and…
How Green Energy Helps Power AI Data Centers That Use a Lot of Electricity
How Green Energy Helps Power AI Data Centers That Use a Lot of Electricity
One sunny afternoon in April, a big power outage happened across the Iberian Peninsula. Millions…
5 Vanguard Bond Funds That Can Earn Income With Less Risk
5 Vanguard Bond Funds That Can Earn Income With Less Risk
Investors are dealing with unstable markets because of global trade issues, tariff talks, and AI…
This Overlooked Travel Essential Is Now A 2025 Summer Must-Have
This Overlooked Travel Essential Is Now A 2025 Summer Must-Have
As summer 2025 approaches, travelers are busy packing their bags with the usual suspects: sunscreen,…
Operation Sindoor: India Strikes Back After Pahalgam Terror Attack
Operation Sindoor: India Strikes Back After Pahalgam Terror Attack
In a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India launched "Operation…
“Thunderbolts” is expected to make between $70 million and $75 million in its opening weekend at the box office
“Thunderbolts” is expected to make between $70 million and $75 million in its opening weekend at the box office
Disney-Marvel's Thunderbolts is expected to make between $70 million and $75 million in its opening…
WWE WrestleMania 41 Results, Winners, and Ratings for Night 2
WWE WrestleMania 41 Results, Winners, and Ratings for Night 2
WWE WrestleMania Sunday (Night 2) took place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. After an…
Country
USA
USA News
UAE
UAE News
Egypt
Egypt News
UK
UK News
South Africa
South Africa News
India
India News
Qatar
Qatar News
Russia
Russia News
Ukrain
Ukrain News
Iran
Iran News