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

[The_Order]

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.

 

[Red00012]

I'm curious whether any season ticket holders are planning to cancel if the Qatar deal goes through.

If they do send them my way I’m waiting 3 years

 

[Ladron de redcafe]

Agreed.



State backed ownership should have never been allowed in, but it’s too late to close that door.



Qatar done a fantastic job with the World Cup.

Yeah the world cup was really well organised.

 

[Bossy]

Do you respect Man City? Do you respect PSG? Or do you even respect Lance Armstrong? I'm talking about (financial) doping. I think it's a problem in general. Clubs shouldn't become a toy for a rich owner, but should be in the hands of the fans. If you do things right, you gain succes. When you are succesful, you gain populairity. When you are popular, you gain more money. That's how it should be. It shouldn't start with (dubious) money. This ownership will destroy the beautiful club Manchester United and how people from all over the world view your club.

 

[Yik]

Do you respect Man City? Do you respect PSG? Or do you even respect Lance Armstrong? I'm talking about (financial) doping. I think it's a problem in general. Clubs shouldn't become a toy for a rich owner, but should be in the hands of the fans. If you do things right, you gain succes. When you are succesful, you gain populairity. When you are popular, you gain more money. That's how it should be. It shouldn't start with (dubious) money. This ownership will destroy the beautiful club Manchester United and how people from all over the world view your club.

I think its quite simple. The Glazers have leeched us to the point where we simply need billions of investment to get better training facilities, a newer/new stadium, to uplift the area surrounding the stadium. In a world where they didnt take over we would have been much better off I believe so Qatari owners, as stated in their manifesto, is simply restoring the status quo. I dont see that as doping.

 

[AlPistacho]

Why would I want to be like the other souless clubs with oil money.

Then Qatar are the perfect owners 70% of Qatar’s revenue comes from liquid gas.

INEOS has crude oil in about 95% of its product.

 

[Wheato]

Thing is, this is not the same as Manchester City. We are not a club languishing in the depths of obscurity. Being lifted out of the gutter, and having 2bn quid thrown at them just to make them relevant, after 4 decades of not competing. We've just played at the Nou Camp, infront of the largest ever crowd for an EFL game. We are still in four competitions, with a cup final next weekend.

We are still the largest supported club in the world, and the most successful club in the United Kingdom. We still achieve enormous sponsorship deals through our name alone, and not because our owner's brother has an airline.

We can stand on our own feet in the current climate, without an owner taking 1.5bn out of the club in dividends. That money could have been used to build a new stadium, but unfortunately it went toward Glazer debt.

So now we are in a situation where we need someone to invest in these things, because we don't have the cash reserves to do it ourselves. I think I would be happy to accept anyone with a plan to bring us up to the required standards. After that, we should go back to being self sufficient with a little bit of help here and there.

 

[Red_Aaron]

They'd be no need for them to financially dope with us because we legit earn enough to compete anyway

Clearing the debt, improving the facilities and investing in the wider community would be easy wins for them and add genuine value to the club

They've already got a great manager so no need for disruption on the playing side. ack him fully and he'll fly I'm sure - they're on a real winner here

At heart I'm an idealist regarding the ownership but sadly my ideals were crushed when the glazers were allowed to buy us (we actually brought ourselves of course and gifted it to them) so no matter what now were susceptible to this - kicking off and preventing these taking over only exposes us to other owners who's intentions may not be as obvious but could be every bit as damaging

Human rights issues in Qatar are of course horrendous and it pains me to see us associated with them however ME influence across the globe is ever growing in all aspects of life and the more they ingratiate with western institutions the more likely change will occur in their country too IMHO - a more effective fan demonstration would be to continue to celebrate its diversity front and centre so as they spread images of their association with us around the world they also spread our fan actions regarding the change we'd like to see from them

Either way I won't stop supporting the club I've loved as long as I can remember and I won't stop willing them to victory as I'd love for my young son to see success akin to that I enjoyed as a youngster with SAF. Football is purely entertainment for me now and my escape watching my team trumps everything else - I know that's selfish but it is what it is

 

[red thru&thru]

Still only around 15% of people would leave.

Having looked at the polls online, non media ones, majority would prefer Jassim over SJR.

Time for us to have the same poll. Maybe a sperate thread?

 

[Chipper]

I don't reckon I'd be happy, can't say how it would impact my "support" until it happened if it does.

Support in inverted commas because I'm nowhere the fan of football or United I was in the past. The only financial backing they get from me is my TV subs but every team gets a piece of that. As I'm not attending matches these days they don't get any vocal support either. I don't buy merchandise either so I don't particularly give much actual support do I?

Used to be mad about football, then it went to watching United only, now I'll volunteer for overtime at work even if we're playing. Just got other priorities I suppose as I've got older.

If I did stop supporting it might not be switching off altogether all of a sudden, it could be part of a further and gradual loss of interest. I honestly don't know, would just have to see how it plays out. Still, wouldn't be particularly happy about it.

 

[keithsingleton]

Not happy but will continue to support the club.

For me it's worse than the Glazer's because of who they are but no doubt my fragile mind will ignore that once we start winning things and rebuilding the club. A bit like how I boycotted the World Cup only to watch every game once it got exciting.

The most disappointing thing is we don't need an oil state, we just need owners who won't bleed the club dry like the Glazers did. This just feels like a cheat code really, and winning might feel hollow now as a result.

Fully understand not being happy about a oil state owning us but they have come out and stated all profits will be put back into the club. Least their not bleeding us dry like the Glazers.

 

[berbatrick]

Somewhere between 2 and 3.
It's not like I financially support the club now, so there's nothing to stop supporting in that way.
In terms of watching matches, I'll continue on with the current players/coaches, but less and less as they are sold/retire, especially if they're splashing the cash to get replacements.

 

[Wumminator]

Interesting that the last ten votes for “Fine, no reservations” have signed up since 2023 and have less than ten posts each….

 

[Chief123]

Interesting that the last ten votes for “Fine, no reservations” have signed up since 2023 and have less than ten posts each….

To be fair, when you leave we’ll need some fresh blood in here.

 

[SouthMancRed]

Interesting that the last ten votes for “Fine, no reservations” have signed up since 2023 and have less than ten posts each….

Awww,, bless. Somebody's struggling with the fact that the gobby minority are very much in the minority.

 

[Hostekule]

It really troubles me. I probably wont stop watching, but I fear I'll completely lose interest over time. Qatari owners will make it really hard for me to celebrate future success, knowing they are backing it. I also understand those fans that welcome them. Football is an escape for many, and telling them to stop watching because of something out of their control as fans is hard to argue.

 

[Wumminator]

Awww,, bless. Somebody's struggling with the fact that the gobby minority are very much in the minority.

15% of United fans are tearing themselves away from their club and almost 50% have voted they’re not happy with the new owners and that is your response?

Can we not just.. show each other respect?

 

[V.O.]

Awww,, bless. Somebody's struggling with the fact that the gobby minority are very much in the minority.

Top effort having the most appropriate tagline on the caf after just a few posts. Well done.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

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Qatar, which hosted the World Cup last year, has faced widespread criticism over human rights, including its treatment of migrant workers and of LGBTQ+ rights. During preparations for the World Cup, reports of worker abuse were widespread. Homosexuality in Qatar is illegal.

Cass Hyde of the Rainbow Devils said it wished to remain “diplomatic” in order to have a relationship with the owners, whoever they were. But she said there was no denying that Qatar’s record on LGBTQ+ rights was “genuinely dreadful”, which she said was of “massive concern”.

The group is planning a survey of its members in the coming days and has not ruled out protests or other action if it considers it necessary. “Whoever the club’s new owners are must commit to making football a sport for everyone, including LGBTQ+ supporters, players and staff,” she said.

Amnesty International’s Manchester offshoot said it had been contacted by several United supporters, who were “very worried and want to be involved in trying to make our voice heard”.

“The majority of United fans will probably be happy. Football is a joy for them; it’s not a priority to think about human rights in a faraway country,” said Kathryn Fletcher of the group. “But at what price are we prepared to have success at the club? We’re not asking people not to support the team, but to think about the implications of being involved with a country that’s got poor human rights.”

 

[Kag]

Would probably place myself between being fine with reservations and not happy but still willing to support the club.

I’m generally a lot less passionate about the game (and sport in general, actually) than I was before: a mix of age, busy work life and a shift in priorities, I guess. I was back on board when things were looking up under Ole, but the way that ended left me disillusioned and I’m not sure if or when that motivation will return.

I can live with these owners. I’m not happy, but I guess I can be fine with it in as much as I’ll still watch the games, read the news and pop on here from time to time.

I don’t like state ownership and I wish it didn’t exist, but it does. Fair play to the folk who will take their support elsewhere, or give it up altogether. Part of me wishes I cared as much anymore. Part of me also thinks I’ve got the right idea and too many folk invest far too much of their well-being into twenty-two blokes (or lasses) kicking a ball about. We’ll see.

 

[SouthMancRed]

15% of United fans are tearing themselves away from their club and almost 50% have voted they’re not happy with the new owners and that is your response?

Can we not just.. show each other respect?

Ha!
Currently 163 United fans are 'tearing themselves away from their club' despite that not being an option and nobody has actually said they would.
If you had another poll right now you'd probably get 90%+ of fans saying they're not happy with the current owners so that's irrelevant.
'and that's your response' - resorting to internet cliche's as an attempted put down shows how much you're struggling.
Can we not just.. show each other respect? - As you do you mean? Magnificent!

 

[Wumminator]

Ha!
Currently 163 United fans are 'tearing themselves away from their club' despite that not being an option and nobody has actually said they would.
If you had another poll right now you'd probably get 90%+ of fans saying they're not happy with the current owners so that's irrelevant.
'and that's your response' - resorting to internet cliche's as an attempted put down shows how much you're struggling.
Can we not just.. show each other respect? - As you do you mean? Magnificent!

You know the worst thing of all? You dislike me, I just pity you.

 

[croadyman]

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.

Who do you want to own us then?

 

[Scandi Red]

I'm surprised that the majority in here is fine with it.

 

[Amsterdam Devil]

I just don’t like the idea of state owned clubs. Never did, never will.

 

[Dion]

Ha!
Currently 163 United fans are 'tearing themselves away from their club' despite that not being an option and nobody has actually said they would.
If you had another poll right now you'd probably get 90%+ of fans saying they're not happy with the current owners so that's irrelevant.
'and that's your response' - resorting to internet cliche's as an attempted put down shows how much you're struggling.
Can we not just.. show each other respect? - As you do you mean? Magnificent!

Plenty have said they would be in his thread, me included.

 

[Rozay]

I don’t care about it from any ethical standpoint, simply because I can’t be asked to start mixing my ethics with my football generally speaking, not unless they confronted me with it and started banning gays from Old Trafford, which they won’t. I never had any ethics argument about City or Newcastle, it was purely the financial doping that bothered me there.

The biggest annoyance is this already building false narrative that we, Manchester fecking United no less, will be no different to City or Newcastle - teams who were more suited to relegation battles and one who cannot even fill its stadium. This ‘asterisk’ that I keep reading about seems to conveniently ignore the fact that we are already the most successful club here (give or take with Liverpool) and make and spend a shed load of money already (legitimately, not with fake sponsors). Now if we buy a player for £10m the world will act as if we couldn’t have possibly bought a footballer if we were not owned by Qataris so it doesn’t count.

It is extremely unlikely that any Qatari owner will come in do what Todd Boelhy has done at Chelsea - yet if Chelsea win the league next season, nobody will mention any asterisk because obscene amounts of money is fine from a sugar daddy as long as he is not Arab or state backed. If a Sheikh gave us £300m or Jim Ratcliffe gave us £300m, for some reason people will act as if the latter is more noble.

We’re already close to the top. We have a good manager. Our sponsors are legitimately up for renewal and we have ALWAYS broken records with our sponsors. But all of a sudden, there will be an opportunity for the bitter to say anything we get is undeserved. Aside from infrastructure, all a Sheikh needs to do is do smart business in terms of marketing and let us spend the hundreds of millions we can legitimately spend every year anyway, but people will pretend that it was Brentford who suddenly found success because they prefer to see it that way.

 

[Yakuza_devils]

I don’t care about it from any ethical standpoint, simply because I can’t be asked to start mixing my ethics with my football generally speaking, not unless they confronted me with it and started banning gays from Old Trafford, which they won’t. I never had any ethics argument about City or Newcastle, it was purely the financial doping that bothered me there.

The biggest annoyance is this already building false narrative that we, Manchester fecking United no less, will be no different to City or Newcastle - teams who were more suited to relegation battles and one who cannot even fill its stadium. This ‘asterisk’ that I keep reading about seems to conveniently ignore the fact that we are already the most successful club here (give or take with Liverpool) and make and spend a shed load of money already (legitimately, not with fake sponsors). Now if we buy a player for £10m the world will act as if we couldn’t have possibly bought a footballer if we were not owned by Qataris so it doesn’t count.

It is extremely unlikely that any Qatari owner will come in do what Todd Boelhy has done at Chelsea - yet if Chelsea win the league next season, nobody will mention any asterisk because obscene amounts of money is fine from a sugar daddy as long as he is not Arab or state backed. If a Sheikh gave us £300m or Jim Ratcliffe gave us £300m, for some reason people will act as if the latter is more noble.

We’re already close to the top. We have a good manager. Our sponsors are legitimately up for renewal and we have ALWAYS broken records with our sponsors. But all of a sudden, there will be an opportunity for the bitter to say anything we get is undeserved. Aside from infrastructure, all a Sheikh needs to do is do smart business in terms of marketing and let us spend the hundreds of millions we can legitimately spend every year anyway, but people will pretend that it was Brentford who suddenly found success because they prefer to see it that way.

Very well said

 

[Señor Sloppy]

I’m curious as to why this issue really matters so much?

Why is it assumed that every negative aspect of Qatar’s reputation will automatically become absorbed and reflected by ourselves should they purchase us?

Does the fact that the Glazers are soulless capitalists mean that Manchester United as a football club currently embody that same soulless capitalist spirit simply because we’re owned by them? Or does the spirit of Manchester United still sit separately to that of the Glazers’?

Through Manchester United, the Qataris will be able to display a far-reaching image of how they conduct their business in the global economy. This does not however mean that Manchester United will suddenly become one big pro-slavery, anti-LGBT billboard. Our spirit as an institution will always sit separately to that of our owners’.

 

[Dion]

I’m curious as to why this issue really matters so much?

Why is it assumed that every negative aspect of Qatar’s reputation will automatically become absorbed and reflected by ourselves should they purchase us?

Does the fact that the Glazers are soulless capitalists mean that Manchester United as a football club currently embody that same soulless capitalist spirit simply because we’re owned by them? Or does the spirit of Manchester United still sit separately to that of the Glazers’?

Through Manchester United, the Qataris will be able to display a far-reaching image of how they conduct their business in the global economy. This does not however mean that Manchester United will suddenly become one big pro-slavery, anti-LGBT billboard. Our spirit as an institution will always sit separately to that of our owners’.

Watch this video from one of the clubs LGBT supporters group about what having a homophobic regime in charge of the club means for gay, bi and trans people across the world.

 

[Gurtej]

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…

 

[Dion]

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…

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.

 

[Gurtej]

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Watch this video from one of the clubs LGBT supporters group about what having a homophobic regime in charge of the club means for gay, bi and trans people across the world.

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

 

[Señor Sloppy]

Watch this video from one of the clubs LGBT supporters group about what having a homophobic regime in charge of the club means for gay, bi and trans people across the world.

He seems to mostly speak about LGBT supporters being likely to no longer "feel included" as a part of Manchester United if the Qataris took over, but I would say that's more of a subjective matter of perception for each of of those supporters individually. For instance, Newcastle United's official LGBT fans group was in favour of their takeover, saying it offered the opportunity for positive change in Saudi Arabia.

If an LGBT fan wants to carry on supporting Manchester United without supporting some of the practices that occur in the home country of its owners, what is actually stopping them from doing that?

It feels like a self-fulfilling prophecy that the spirit of the football club automatically embodies the spirit of its owners.

 

[Dion]

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

A state and someone who lives in that state but is not remotely involved in the operation of that state are not the same thing. Nobody wants the US or UK governments to buy Man Utd either.

And I think it speaks volumes that your immediate response to a gay person raising the issue of what an homophobic state directly owning a prominent institution like Man Utd is "absolutely useless concerns". It's abundantly clear you only care about one thing here.

 

[Dion]

He seems to mostly speak about LGBT supporters being likely to no longer "feel included" as a part of Manchester United if the Qataris took over, but I would say that's more of a subjective matter of perception for each of of those supporters individually. For instance, Newcastle United's official LGBT fans group was in favour of their takeover, saying it offered the opportunity for positive change in Saudi Arabia.

If an LGBT fan wants to carry on supporting Manchester United without supporting some of the practices that occur in the home country of its owners, what is actually stopping them from doing that?

It feels like a self-fulfilling prophecy that the spirit of the football club automatically embodies the spirit of its owners.

Much to the scorn of every other LGBT organisation in the PL who forced them to leave the Pride in Football network over their complicity.

 

[Yakuza_devils]

Some people want Jim because he is British. Nvm this guy could potentially saddled us with debts that many times bigger than Glazers that could put us into liquidation. As of now with 500M debts, we are running at annual losses of more than 100M.

The loan that need to buy the club, invest in the infrastructure and squad could be up to 8B. This could potentially means the repayment of loans for the next 2 decades could be about 20B or more. This is no exaggeration as Glazers loaned 600M to buy Man Utd and after 2 decades of repaying 1.5B we still have 500M debts.

Man Utd is not too big to go under. If we are not careful the end might be near. I feel this is too big for Jim and he taking on something way beyond his capacity.

This is also the guy that put in a bid for Chelsea after the deadline. If rumours are to be believed he put in a bid for Man Utd way below the asking price. Not sure if he is serious.

The club will be in much better hands without restrictions to invest in infrastructure and squad under the Qatari. As Man Utd fan, I want the best for the club and the safest bet is Qatar.

 

[alexthelion]

15% of United fans are tearing themselves away from their club and almost 50% have voted they’re not happy with the new owners and that is your response?

Can we not just.. show each other respect?

That's rich, coming from you

 

[Señor Sloppy]

Much to the scorn of every other LGBT organisation in the PL who forced them to leave the Pride in Football network over their complicity.

That article says they left of their own volition.

Either way, it's irrelevant to my point that a football club's synonymity with its owners is all a matter of personal perception.

 

[Dion]

That article says they left of their own volition.

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?