Apologies. I thought you didn't know the difference between them, literally. As in, weren't even aware they were different countries. Ha.
The men behind Man city: If you thought Qatar was a problem, wait till you get a load of Abu Dhabi
- Thread starter Maradona10
- Start date
There are the premier league has a fit and proper person test to determine if someone can buy a Premier League club.
Unfortunately it's more concerned with money than morals.
That should say those in power in these countries, I've edited the previous post to reflect.
Anyways it's always the same in these countries. Previous western involvement and whatnot should not be used as a reason for them doing all these things.
I don't disagree - something can always be done and it would be nice when conducting business with these countries that it could be politely pointed out that certain practices are somewhat outdated. I'm not sure how thousands of years of the more draconian aspects of sharia law can be changed overnight though. Another poster did point out that the UAE isn't quite as bad as other states in that area though, although clearly a lot still needs to be done, so maybe slowly they're getting there.
Western involvement has played a role, as always, there isn't one and only explanation but it's the accumulation of several things.
Sure. Of course, slaves are by definition not citizens, so it's nonsensical to use this differentiation in defense of a society.
Very important point, though the meaning of this may be lost on people who casually throw around statistics
Couldn´t agree more.
For all of you who think this is all just media bs well it´s not.. Human rights are brutally broken in these states and the treatment of the workforce is terrible.
anyone interested could read this
https://themuslimvibe.com/muslim-cu...-and-their-treatment-of-asian-migrant-workers
This is modern day slavery.
PS anyone telling me I need to visit or live there, I have both lived and visited. My family lived in the middle east for over ten years.
As mentioned and discussed by @M18CTID it doesn’t sit easily. And never has since the takeover.
There isn’t an excuse if you really want to pin it down.
Everyone make compromises with their morals and nonperfect behaviour.
At the extreme end of complete morality , if you’re reading this, you’re perpetuating the dicking of the planet.
Oil fuelled (no pun intended) the modern world, and dominated the economies, strategies, invasions, war and wealth of almost everyone since the combustion engine proved to rather efficient.
As alluded to on a previous post the UK controlled the Emirates area till the 70’s, going back to the 2nd world war, the Uk invaded Iran and Iraq (along with Soviet Union) mainly to secure strategic oil supply. America’s policy for the past century has been dominated by oil, with aditional 50 year dose of anti communism. Japan’s plunge into WW2 could be argued about because of the need to secure oil supplies.
And those policies , generally by the US and to a lesser extent UK, propped up countless oppressive regimes to achieve whatever strategic policy was required.
I think to say that it’s all a PR exercise is wrong. I personally don’t have any changed feelings towards Abu Dhabi than i did before the takeover. (In fact I probably have worse, due to Reading more information). But I have a disdain for PR and advertising anyway - so I might be in a minority there.
So, yeah, it doesn’t sit easy being a City fan for the club to be owned as such.
There isn’t an excuse if you really want to pin it down.
Everyone make compromises with their morals and nonperfect behaviour.
At the extreme end of complete morality , if you’re reading this, you’re perpetuating the dicking of the planet.
Oil fuelled (no pun intended) the modern world, and dominated the economies, strategies, invasions, war and wealth of almost everyone since the combustion engine proved to rather efficient.
As alluded to on a previous post the UK controlled the Emirates area till the 70’s, going back to the 2nd world war, the Uk invaded Iran and Iraq (along with Soviet Union) mainly to secure strategic oil supply. America’s policy for the past century has been dominated by oil, with aditional 50 year dose of anti communism. Japan’s plunge into WW2 could be argued about because of the need to secure oil supplies.
And those policies , generally by the US and to a lesser extent UK, propped up countless oppressive regimes to achieve whatever strategic policy was required.
I think to say that it’s all a PR exercise is wrong. I personally don’t have any changed feelings towards Abu Dhabi than i did before the takeover. (In fact I probably have worse, due to Reading more information). But I have a disdain for PR and advertising anyway - so I might be in a minority there.
So, yeah, it doesn’t sit easy being a City fan for the club to be owned as such.
How would you feel about North Korea owning a PL club? Would it be all white man's burdeny of me to feel uncomfortable with it?
Great post nearly destroyed by that paragraph. "Don't get me wrong, she hates it here too". Hates what, the local higher ups in the masons chaining foreign indentured slaves to their cars and dragging them to their deaths in the New Forest?
If “tax cuts for the rich” (when the rich already stump up a vastly disproportionate amount of their wealth to the tax man than your average joe or “poor person” and are suffering a higher tax burden in the UK than ever before) is all youve got to support that nonsense, then this conversation is over, because you have not got a clue what you are talking about so its just going to waste everyones time.
Heres some reading for you, so you dont feel tempted to talk a load of bollocks again:
https://www.ft.com/content/afd88af6-3645-11e7-99bd-13beb0903fa3
Noone will focus on any of this sadly. It's not in the PL's interest to focus any attention that they could spend on glorifying City (or any other team in their position) on issues involving morals.
Looks like Mr NotBrendanRodgers has a lot of reading to do, ive given him some as well, hopefully he takes it all in and can come back debating from an informed position rather than where he is now.
Don't get me wrong, the state of human rights in Abu Dhabi is pathetic, and the income inequality is a pisstake.
However, many City fans, especially non glory-hunters, must be in a difficult position. Just as it is not easy to stop supporting a club after X number of years, it must also suck to know for sure that the owners are probably involved in such exploitation. While we have every right to criticize, and maybe even engage in some banter with the City fans, I do feel that seriously trying to achieve some kind of moral high ground over them (plastic fans, etc etc) is inappropriate.
Not that I would appreciate United trouncing City 6-0 anyday, but this is a whole different matter I feel.
However, many City fans, especially non glory-hunters, must be in a difficult position. Just as it is not easy to stop supporting a club after X number of years, it must also suck to know for sure that the owners are probably involved in such exploitation. While we have every right to criticize, and maybe even engage in some banter with the City fans, I do feel that seriously trying to achieve some kind of moral high ground over them (plastic fans, etc etc) is inappropriate.
Not that I would appreciate United trouncing City 6-0 anyday, but this is a whole different matter I feel.
I couldn't support United if we were bank-rolled by this.
I'd follow footy in general until they'd sold to a buyer who wasn't what I consider actually evil. Maybe I'd pick a 2nd team, I dunno.
But I couldn't support that. It'd be interesting to see if ANY citeh fans have anything to say on it other than just sweeping it away.
I'd follow footy in general until they'd sold to a buyer who wasn't what I consider actually evil. Maybe I'd pick a 2nd team, I dunno.
But I couldn't support that. It'd be interesting to see if ANY citeh fans have anything to say on it other than just sweeping it away.
Why would I care about what City owners do? It is none of my fecking business. I want to see United beating the noisy neighbours on football pitches. Other than that, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Russia, America, it is owners money and they invest it wherever they want. The whole planet has gone crazy not just some of Middle East sheikhs.
Odd stance to have as a United fan.
Spot on, especially the last bit. I feel that's the bit most posters here are turning a blind eye to.
No, of course you wouldn't mate. It always makes me laugh when I see comments like this that you know in all probability are not true. Especially when your club receives sponsorship money from Russia (and previously from Turkey) - funny how your moral compass has gone missing regarding that.
And for your information, 2 of us have already commented on this thread
Bam. A short post, but a great one.
Someone needs to raise this with him - shame the U.K media are too busy fawning over their new figure of worship to do so.
And p.s the guys name is an anagram of A Oil Guard...
We agree to disagree and move on. At least we have one major thing in common. We support United.
Well, I do.
But you don't mind the regimes in charge of Russia and Turkey. Hmmmmmm..........
I’ll be honest - I don’t think it’s a great article.
Not to say that it isn’t true - absolutely the opposite. It’s very speculative when it doesn’t need to be as it’s too focussed on linking to their football interests.
Look outside of football. The evidence of mistreatment of immigrants is rife. Immoral practices by law enforcement is rife. Racism is rife. MisTreatment of foreign businesses in the UAE. All of which is based in fact and frankly an article on those facts would go much further than just talking about footballing interests.
Not to say that it isn’t true - absolutely the opposite. It’s very speculative when it doesn’t need to be as it’s too focussed on linking to their football interests.
Look outside of football. The evidence of mistreatment of immigrants is rife. Immoral practices by law enforcement is rife. Racism is rife. MisTreatment of foreign businesses in the UAE. All of which is based in fact and frankly an article on those facts would go much further than just talking about footballing interests.
Well, you certainly do. Keep on. That's the way to support United.
Typical western fear mongering article. Having lived on both sides I've seen the other perspective as well: "britians criminal politician" articles that make it seem like there's so tyrant fecking over the locals.
"Evil middle east" just sells better and it's easy to accuse these guys without any proof because since they aren't fully democratic they must be bad. Most locals of UAE are quite supportive of their government.
That said tho, feck saudi. Those rulers deserve some serious punishments.
"Evil middle east" just sells better and it's easy to accuse these guys without any proof because since they aren't fully democratic they must be bad. Most locals of UAE are quite supportive of their government.
That said tho, feck saudi. Those rulers deserve some serious punishments.
Yep, their national airlines which in turn are directly linked to the governments of those countries.
Cheers.
Oh, and since when was it "your" club? I must've missed the bit about the Glazers selling up
Nah, I think just the general apathy we all feel somewhat from working hard for low pay, taxed to death on everything, extortionate rent and greedy landlords, a government more concerned with Brexit than helping the homelessness and fixing the faltering NHS.
I get your point though, we have it much, much, much better off than those poor sods. I count my lucky stars every day. I think I was just trying to make the point that I wasn't writing the post from atop a high horse, which seemed to be what the poster I replied too was insinuating about some of the other comments.
Believe it or not I pulled a lot of punches with the post, my girlfriend has been through a lot in her relatively short life, most of it in the UAE and unable to get the help she needed because of the way that society is shaped. It's left her incredibly jaded and cynical about everywhere in the world and the people in it, and it spreads to me sometimes.
Well we all knew it was dodgy as feck and anyone who couldn't see that from Day 0 is blind. The fact our media aren't poring all over it tells us that they're either in on it in some fashion or just as fecking dodgy.
You wouldn't support them why and you'd support the glazers why..
Abramovich is at almost every home game. How much more football can he like?
Oh it's alright then, close thread.
Sure, understood. It's the relativism that does my head in. Griezmann's inconsequential daft costume choice has already generated 18 pages of militant outrage, meanwhile wonder how many pages we'll get about a regime and society neck deep in the worst kind of real world racism.
I've lived in the UAE and the disparity in wealth is ridiculous. Labour rights don't exist, as evidenced by the number of worker fatalities. The whole culture reeks of hypocrisy.
This is a great read but I doubt people will care. Had United been bought out by Emirati/Qatar owners there'd have been a public outcry, but City don't receive the same media attention and, besides, most people seem to have bought into the Pep love-in.
This is a great read but I doubt people will care. Had United been bought out by Emirati/Qatar owners there'd have been a public outcry, but City don't receive the same media attention and, besides, most people seem to have bought into the Pep love-in.
To be honest I doubt they give a shit. Just like we wouldn't.Their sense of achievement must feel so hollow, knowing that everything is artificial. Nothing has been earned, it's all off the back of some random guy's wallet. There is no prestige, history or tradition to that club. It says everything about it that the only representative they could find for the derby wasn't even football related - Noel fecking Gallagher
I can never bring myself to respect that club or anything they've achieved. A plastic vessel of a club. Feck City.
It's sickening for rival clubs but what can you do. Just like their owner could be committing mass murders and they wouldn't care.
There’s two differences here
1 - the Griezmann thread is filled with people who are defending it, and that debate is what has filled up most of the pages.
2 - there’s no defending the actions of the city owners here either by us or the city fans, so of course it won’t have the same effect.
Either way, I’m not sure what kind of comparison you’re trying to draw.
I honestly don't think there would mate. There would be the odd article about it just as there is with City, but if you remember the rumours about a Qatari takeover of United a few years back with the Class of '92 fronting it, there wasn't anything of note in the way of negative reporting. A far more concrete rumour was the Dubai-backed takeover of Liverpool back in around 2008 when those 2 clowns Hicks and Gillett were making a hash of things over there. Again, there was little negativity and if anything it was openly positive with the DIC SOS banners getting a lot of coverage.
People get their moralistic knickers in a twist about stuff that barely matters/harms no one, but for true big issues of justice they bury their heads in the sand. For all sorts of reasons.
I wonder. I'm going to stick my neck out and say Liverpool fans would not be comfortable with these people as owners. And we -for a while- had a decent and voluble protest going about debt restructuring, sure people would have an opinion if they ran Utd. It would be a major shame.
I have foreign relatives who have gone to the UAE to work, one of them went for a few months and one came back quickly as he couldn't handle the working conditions, which his dad wasn't too happy about as he spent a lot of money getting him there. Others are still there and some have moved up to more comfortable jobs (driving etc) making a decent wage. The problem here is despite the terrible working conditions they still make a lot more money than they would in their home countries and unfortunately that's the way the money driven world works. Until resources are shared more equally around the world exploitation will continue.
And no matter how much we sit on our high horses most of the countries we live in were built off slavery or wealth taken from other countries during colonisation, so you can see why an Arab wouldn't take such criticism seriously from a westerner. But would make clear, it doesn't make the working conditions acceptable.
And no matter how much we sit on our high horses most of the countries we live in were built off slavery or wealth taken from other countries during colonisation, so you can see why an Arab wouldn't take such criticism seriously from a westerner. But would make clear, it doesn't make the working conditions acceptable.
I think most posters have accepted that you're never going to get a perfect scenario, and - by it's nature - power and big business is always going to have questionable ties. There is a significant difference, however, in garnering the support of companies based in countries with questionable political environments in contrast to effectively being bank rolled by a state that has direct correlation with some of the acts mentioned in the initial article.
I understand that, from a fan's perspective, this might seem like a footballing issue but the reality of the matter with the likes of PSG and City is that it goes way beyond this. What is being achieved by the owners of these clubs has little to do with football, but much more with asserting themselves into an international sphere of influence whilst attempting to legitimise their global position. They have virtually no chance doing this off the back of their political credentials; despite having ratified aspects of the Geneva Convention, Qatar, for instance, is still to meet international requirements for migrant workers and refugees, though new laws for regarding working hours for migrants were passed in October. This is coupled with the covering up of information required by the international community, the entire Gulf area scores very poorly in the Freedom House's Map of Press Freedom. Football has become one of the international arenas they have been able to exploit in order to further their own international stance. We have a world cup in Qatar to come, alongside investment in practically every major European football club. I'd like to outline, as well, that I have zero issue with money from this part of the world coming into football - or the world cup going to Qatar - other than their breeching of international human rights. This is not me holding any prejudice to this part of the world, as it can - and does - happen globally.
I honestly don't care about the clubs these owners have invested their billions - in much the same fashion I don't think it particularly matters to them. What I do care about is this information coming to light, though we most probably won't see it covered by any of the major press outlets.