Opposition to Saudi Arabian Take Over

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mariachi-19

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In light of Ducan Castles article and potential Saudi Arabian Take Over of the club, this is probably a good time to suggest that supporters take action in opposition to any sale of the club to that "mob".

While the premier league let the likes of City get purchased by the Qataries, I would think that making it very clear to sponsors and the premier league that the vast majority of the fans in their crown jewel oppose the sale, it might certainly make them reconsider whether they would approve of the sale.

Certainly if there was any time for fans to unite over a cause, this is surely it.
 

foolsgold

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I'd rather have the Glazers than Mohammed Bin Salman, having the club in the hands someone who orders cold blooded murder is an unspeakable prospect
 

The Boy

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In light of Ducan Castles article and potential Saudi Arabian Take Over of the club, this is probably a good time to suggest that supporters take action in opposition to any sale of the club to that "mob".

While the premier league let the likes of City get purchased by the Qataries, I would think that making it very clear to sponsors and the premier league that the vast majority of the fans in their crown jewel oppose the sale, it might certainly make them reconsider whether they would approve of the sale.

Certainly if there was any time for fans to unite over a cause, this is surely it.
Pleased to this thread, though I am not a United fan, I would not like to their Royal family become part of the premier league. I know there will be a lot of people out there who want the cash and the rich backers, but of this takeover happens not only will you become overnight plastic like City, you'll actually be worse as your owners will have an even worse human rights record than their's. It would be the ultimate betrayal of English football if this happened, though sadly with the state things are at the moment and the soul pretty much gone from the game, that ship has probably sailed already.

But if there was ever an takeover to protest against, this is it.
 

matherto

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I got shouted at on Twitter for saying I'd stop supporting the club if the Saudis took over.

Apparently because the Glazers support Israel and thus have Palestinian blood on their hands, I'm not allowed to have any opposition to this.

The Glazers are bad enough and that Israeli support is terrible but the Saudis are a whole new level of awful and I refuse to support the shiny cockring of their attempt to appear like they've joined the 21st century and bow to their propaganda.

Once we become their little plaything we're no better than City and our fans would be extreme hypocrites for being okay with it given our historic pisstaking of City for becoming a lottery win club.

We'd completely lose who we are and I don't want any part of it.

I'm not sure what I'd do instead but football as a whole would probably be dead to me.
 

MisterLupus

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I would have to stop supporting this club if that happened. I love football and Manchester United is what made me love football - so it would break my heart - but if this club whores out to such a repressive regime - a regime that in addition to acting a tyrant towards it's own people is also a leading sponsor of religious fanaticism and it's inherent terrorism world wide - then quite frankly this love affair ends. I'm not sure I'm worth the billions these Saudis will bring with them though so probably none of the higher-ups will care one bit what any of us thinks - but that won't matter to me it'll be the end of the journey as far as I'm concerned - the parting of ways.
 

Florida Man

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I personally wouldn’t stop supporting the club but I wouldn’t be mad at anyone if they did.
 

Moby

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Absolutely.

No chance I'd be supporting the club if this happens, and that isn't some kind of overreaction either, and hopefully most fans will feel similar. The reason I came about supporting this club was largely to do with our history and tradition, the way we've stood by our strong morals and integrity, the way we responded to a tragedy like Munich and came out of it together, etc. This isn't selling the club to a random shady corrupt businessman or corporation. It's basically letting one of the most vile and inhuman national leaders take the club in their hands and there's no chance whatsoever I'd support something that's run by those people.

This is Saudi Arabia we are talking about, a place where human rights are a joke, people especially women are treated in barbaric manner, a country that activity takes part in genocide and arming terrorist organisations. Giving an ounce of support to these guys is as good as supporting a terrorist organisation. Takes a second to think about the atrocities they have committed and how no one with a slight bit of conscious would never consider taking sides with these guys.

Obviously it won't be stopping watching football and even United games for that matter, but the entire connection I've had as a fan with the club and the way we are passionate about everything that happens at the club, on and off the pitch would be totally gone. If anything it would be pretty shit watching them win stuff after being funded by blood money. Will be a really sad day and for someone like me who pretty much follows football because of United and little less, it would mean pretty much the end of actively and passionately following the sport itself.
 

Sky1981

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We're not a perennial lower table team who has no hope of glory without sugar daddies.

We're 2nd in spending beaten only by city.

So, if we bend our knees and court them to come i feel we're selling our moral compass just for a few extra hundred millions. I'd probably lose interest in the whole premier league shenagigans, will still support united casually, checking tabs, posting opinions on the caf, but that's probably it.

If they come they come, but i wont support any action that begging them to come. Not for a few million more. There's more things to live than supporting a football club.

Edit... 15 years onwards, i dont see anything that made me fall in love with united in the first place. No romance and naratives of united way, no idol in ferguson, no likeable players, i feel more and more indifferent towards united current teams. Much has changed.
 

RedDevil@84

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Are people just opposed to Salman's family taking over. Are they ok with any other rich Saudi taking over?
 

marukomu

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While the premier league let the likes of City get purchased by the Qataries, .
You'd think the sale would be blocked but the UK makes massive amounts of money from arms sales and imports shitloads of oil from Saudi Arabia, so I reckon any potential bid would be green lighted.
 

amolbhatia50k

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We dont need a financial hand. The club is big and rich enough on its own.

Although the revolt against Saudi buyers is interesting. I completely understand it however y'all do realise that your own governments and national policy, does involve dealing with (giving benefits to and taking benefits from) the Saudi's. So if you feel that nobody with a moral compass should deal with them, neither should your country. And you've elected your leaders and fund them through your taxes. I also highly doubt you've protested your countries support for violation women's rights, terrorism etc.

Of course there's a difference between dealing with someone for mutual gain and being owned by and hence synonymous with, that person. And I do agree on that count and of not wanting them as owners becuase - feck that. Just was wondering if people have actually thought through all their indignation.
 

amolbhatia50k

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Are people just opposed to Salman's family taking over. Are they ok with any other rich Saudi taking over?
I don't see why they should have an issue with any Saudi unless they're actively involved in commuting human riots violations etc If they're just regular business men, there isn't a problem. Nationality shouldn't be used to discriminate.
 

Moby

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I completely understand it however y'all do realise that your own governments and national policy, does involve dealing with (giving benefits to and taking benefits from) the Saudi's. So if you feel that nobody with a moral compass should deal with them, neither should your country.
I mean, majority of people here actively voice against their respective governments for reasons like these among others, not sure how that is hypocritical in any way. 'You've elected your government' changes from individual to individual. I didn't vote for Modi, never will and constantly voice against his wrongdoings, same as most others in here. Yes, we fund them with our taxes, do we have any other choice? We do have a choice on showing the support to the club however.

Comparing supporting a sports team to electing a government and paying taxes is probably one of the dumbest analogies I've seen on here.
 

prateik

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We dont need the money.. Even if we did, we shouldnt be taking it from there.. but we dont.

We just need to spend it a little better .. and considering how low the bar we have set is.. it shouldnt be that hard.

Regardless of the money.. I'll rather support United in the Championship than support United winning quadruples every year with that money.

Some people will get over it quickly. I dont think I'll even bother watching long enough to see if I would be one of those.

If this happens, I'm out.
 

amolbhatia50k

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I mean, majority of people here actively voice against their respective governments for reasons like these among others, not sure how that is hypocritical in any way. 'You've elected your government' changes from individual to individual. I didn't vote for Modi, never will and constantly voice against his wrongdoings, same as most others in here. Yes, we fund them with our taxes, do we have any other choice? We do have a choice on showing the support to the club however.

Comparing supporting a sports team to electing a government and paying taxes is probably one of the dumbest analogies I've seen on here.
Oh yes actively voiced - on an internet forum.

Nah, most here wouldn't have done anything on the atrocities committed by and supported by your governments in relation to the Saudis or otherwise. Posting a sentence and smiley about it online means jack shit.

Good thing you're still obtuse enough to not be able to identify an analogy since that clearly wasn't one. I was questing how well thought the righteous indignation - specifically of anyone having anything to do with them. Given you know, our countries have tons to do with them. Do whatever you want with your support - you're well entitled to not support a club owners by worse than the Mafia. But of course you missed the point as usual.
 

amolbhatia50k

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I wouldn't stop supporting the club but I reckon it would lose a lot of the magic for me. Being owned by any government /regime isn't great becuase you attract all their misgivings but one of the worst ones at that, is pretty low.
 

MackRobinson

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We dont need a financial hand. The club is big and rich enough on its own.

Although the revolt against Saudi buyers is interesting. I completely understand it however y'all do realise that your own governments and national policy, does involve dealing with (giving benefits to and taking benefits from) the Saudi's. So if you feel that nobody with a moral compass should deal with them, neither should your country. And you've elected your leaders and fund them through your taxes. I also highly doubt you've protested your countries support for violation women's rights, terrorism etc.

Of course there's a difference between dealing with someone for mutual gain and being owned by and hence synonymous with, that person. And I do agree on that count and of not wanting them as owners becuase - feck that. Just was wondering if people have actually thought through all their indignation.
That's a pretty simplistic line of thought. Whataboutisms aside, supporting a football club != being a citizen of a country. Elections are democratic, taxes are compulsory, and one cannot pick their citizenship.
 

Moby

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Oh yes actively voiced - on an internet forum.

Nah, most here wouldn't have done anything on the atrocities committed by and supported by your governments in relation to the Saudis or otherwise. Posting a sentence and smiley about it online means jack shit.

Good thing you're still obtuse enough to not be able to identify an analogy since that clearly wasn't one. I was questing how well thought the righteous indignation - specifically of anyone having anything to do with them. Given you know, our countries have tons to do with them. Do whatever you want with your support - you're well entitled to not support a club owners by worse than the Mafia. But of course you missed the point as usual.
I didn't, called it out as it makes no sense. People who don't support their leaders siding with the likes of Saudis show it by not voting for them, that's the extent to which someone can oppose such actions by their nations. Thought that was obvious, but you aren't the sharpest tool in the shed so I'm happy to reiterate. The fact that the majority in a country vote for the govt. that would go and shake hands with these guys doesn't mean every individual is responsible for 'electing that govt' when in fact they voted against them. How that even begins to question the morality of the said individuals when they have done all they could to not let corrupt and morally subhuman leaders to come into power is beyond any logic or rationality.

This is such an illogical argument, can't believe someone has even made it in relevance to what's being discussed in this thread. It's bottom of the barrel whataboutism, but even that is being generous.
 

Harry190

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I though it was made up. It's real, isn't it? They're really bidding. Holy cow.
 

sglowrider

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Haha, so many folks with moral compasses!!

If United was still ahead of the Liverpool -- in terms of League titles and won our 6th Champions League in 2028 and thus shutting up the Scoucers again, how many would be slagging of MBS? Come back to this thread in a few years time if we are beating the scousers and RM/Barca in the CL regularly.

Most people will eventually rationalise their attitudes when we are winning again even with MBS' money. That's just how the human psyche is built.
 

Tarrou

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Ultimately I just think it would be another shit-show. It's way way harder to buy your way to the top these days, compared to when City did it. The fees we'd be quoted would be obscene.

That is before you consider what it means to be used as a PR tool by those cnuts.
 

VJ1762

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Ultimately I just think it would be another shit-show. It's way way harder to buy your way to the top these days, compared to when City did it. The fees we'd be quoted would be obscene.

That is before you consider what it means to be used as a PR tool by those cnuts.
While I agree with the PR part, the family is worth a whopping 1 trillion dollars. They could really pay any amount quoted by other clubs.
 

The Don

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I got shouted at on Twitter for saying I'd stop supporting the club if the Saudis took over.

Apparently because the Glazers support Israel and thus have Palestinian blood on their hands, I'm not allowed to have any opposition to this.

The Glazers are bad enough and that Israeli support is terrible but the Saudis are a whole new level of awful and I refuse to support the shiny cockring of their attempt to appear like they've joined the 21st century and bow to their propaganda.

Once we become their little plaything we're no better than City and our fans would be extreme hypocrites for being okay with it given our historic pisstaking of City for becoming a lottery win club.

We'd completely lose who we are and I don't want any part of it.

I'm not sure what I'd do instead but football as a whole would probably be dead to me.
Depends who you ask, I suppose. I see no difference in how israeli and saudi leaders act, tbh. As for the Glazers, they are pro-trump, pro-israeli, zionists, which is as low as you can possibly get, in my book. I didn't turn my back on the club because of them and I won't do it if Saudis take over. Best case scenario for me would be neither had anything to do with the club I love but I don't get to choose that.
 

MisterLupus

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Depends who you ask, I suppose. I see no difference in how israeli and saudi leaders act, tbh. As for the Glazers, they are pro-trump, pro-israeli, zionists, which is as low as you can possibly get, in my book. I didn't turn my back on the club because of them and I won't do it if Saudis take over. Best case scenario for me would be neither had anything to do with the club I love but I don't get to choose that.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is littered with atrocities no questions asked (by both sides it's not as black-and-white as many will have it) - but don't compare life in Israel with that of Saudi Arabia unless you want to provoke a laugh. I know which country I would choose to live in at least.
 

Eric7C

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While I agree with the PR part, the family is worth a whopping 1 trillion dollars. They could really pay any amount quoted by other clubs.
Wouldn't we violate UEFA rules? We'd still have to spend in relation to our real earnings. Even if they do take over, do they have the right kind of ambition for the club in the way City's owners have?

My view is that I don't want either the Glazers or the Saudis but a club owned by supporters, and I would be willing to pitch in. However, I don't think that is realistic. There will definitely be a decision to make if they become our owners, but either way, whatever we win afterward is guarenteed to feel hollow.
 

Eric7C

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The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is littered with atrocities no questions asked (by both sides it's not as black-and-white as many will have it) - but don't compare life in Israel with that of Saudi Arabia unless you want to provoke a laugh. I know which country I would choose to live in at least.
But choosing which country to live in has nothing to do with what Israel often does in Palestine. I am not saying the countries are equal, but really, isn't one death or torture enough? We still support the club at the moment don't we?
 

Corwin

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People are so easily manipulated. You are told that Salman ordered to kill someone and you believe it. Have you ever heard about propaganda and fake news? I don't say Salman is a saint but the Qataries aren't either. I detest Glazers and want to get rid of them asap because they don't give a feck about our club, our history, they care only about the money.
 

The Don

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The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is littered with atrocities no questions asked (by both sides it's not as black-and-white as many will have it) - but don't compare life in Israel with that of Saudi Arabia unless you want to provoke a laugh. I know which country I would choose to live in at least.
I firmly believe Israel's human rights atrocities are equal to or greater than that of Saudis. Not a day goes by without a death, torture, illegal detention or home destruction of innocent Palestinian people. All the while those poor people are held in an open air prison, with their basic human rights being denied. Their daily war crimes go unchecked, despite over a hundred UN sanctions against them.
 

Hawks2008

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Glazers don't need to sell we are there cash cow, we are self sustaining and not in such a state that we must take blood money from the House of Saud. I don't see it happening.
 

freeurmind

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Would rather keep the Glazers than take the Saudis. They behead journalists like ISIS ffs. Obviously I'm talking about the royal family here and people in the government and not the Saudi population as a whole.
 

clarkydaz

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imagine the glazers make 4 billion from Us then hand us over to saudi arabia. they turn to the fans and say well, you all wanted us out
 

red thru&thru

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I some how don't see how many would do this. I think any such supporters left to FC United, who opposed to the Glazer's take over.
 

njred

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If you got bought by the Saudis I would definitely lose interest in the Pl. It wouldn't be because we would have another City clone to contend with but more of a feeling that the PL would lose a lot of it's identity with united not being united anymore. You would be the biggest club in the world bar none but you would cease being our rivals and I think spell the end of the PL as we know it. I would rather you feck off with the Saudis if they took over and start a new super league in Europe without us in it.
 

Relfy

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In light of Ducan Castles article and potential Saudi Arabian Take Over of the club, this is probably a good time to suggest that supporters take action in opposition to any sale of the club to that "mob".

While the premier league let the likes of City get purchased by the Qataries, I would think that making it very clear to sponsors and the premier league that the vast majority of the fans in their crown jewel oppose the sale, it might certainly make them reconsider whether they would approve of the sale.

Certainly if there was any time for fans to unite over a cause, this is surely it.
City are owned by UAE. PSG is owned by Qatar.

The Premier League and more so the FA have failed in managing their 'fit and proper persons tests' with a number of takeovers across the leagues in recent years. I don't think a number of fans creating some noise will see them intervene and block any sale.

I can see this story gaining momentum. Saudi is actively trying to revise the way the outside world views them, and by buying one of the best known teams in the world would put them on the map, as well as them being able to compete with their neighbors in UAE and Qatar. Whether this amounts to an actual takeover bid let alone an actual takeover remains to be seen.
 
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