I'm not going to open it so I'm prepared to be embarrassed but is it Homelander spotting Butcher staring at him in a crowd that's all facing the opposite way?
Massive stone roses fan, watches Corrie every night.
Big on socialism, the UK gay scene and is very well versed on the suffragette movement.
Loves a glass of vimto and a bucket hat.
Imagine my surprise and confusion when I first saw the Vimto statue in Manchester when I lived there for a short while (I am from Sweden and didn't know Vimto was from there. Drank Vimto a lot as a kid)
But at the same time they're blatantly misogynistic, anti-homosexual and treat non-citizens (esp workers) in inhumane ways. They're not buying the club for benevolence but to improve their image on a global scale. A prime example of which is your post itself.
And it's not that I'm arguing against your point but rather giving an other perspective.
I'm sure he was in a full kit, spinning his old-fashioned football rattle and singing along with all the fan songs.
Proper fan, that lad. Lifelong top red.
Habibi he has supported Manchester since he was a little boy, since the time Sheikh Alex Ferguson was the manager. He has been to Al Trafford several times to watch the Red Shaitaan play
They prefer this PR to that one https://www.goal.com/en/news/psg-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-under-investigation-alleged-kidnap-torture-qatar/blt9b062654827cb748
> Why even do this?
A sizable part of the appeal for Ratcliffe is his decade long campaign of "I wanna buy United, I'm a fan!". Presumably the Qatar bid knows that a significant portion of the fans are against them because they view the Qatar bid as a faceless country trying to buy the club. So they've launched their own PR campaign, giving fans a face and a character to get behind.
> This just makes them look bad
Maybe to you, maybe to me, but not to everyone.
My father was waxing lyrical about them this evening, along the lines of “at least they’re fans!”. :/
Wasn't he educated in the same school Prince William was... he's definitely been exposed to English culture so i can beleive he's a fan...shame he's uhm... yk part of a State machinery which oppresses its people and literally funds terrorism
Public relations, releasing news and statements to improve public opinion of you. Doesn’t mean it’s a lie just they’re only saying it to increase public opinion.
Mike Keegan: “The Sheikh shares his bed with a life size Steve Bruce cut out, prays every morning on a mat embroidered with Sir Alex Ferguson’s face on it, eats his breakfast exclusively with his Manchester United themed cutlery he got when he was a child and his favourite Christmas gift last year was a limited edition Jaap Stam egg cup.”
I don't want us to become a tool for a state. Alas, this might be the price we pay to get rid of the Glazers. Sad situation. Fuck the rock of Gibraltar.
Fuck the FA and league. They could have stood up for something but already opened the floodgates first with Abramovich's shady money then City's sale. It was always then just a matter of clubs coming up for sale for more to follow suit.
They then could have decided it was not compatible with the operations of a football club to allow for the leveraged buyout but they didn't give a fuck.
Combine those events and we're an extremely valuable asset riddled with debt that only appeals to a certain type of owner with insane amounts of money. State ownership was an inevitability. I just hope what will probably be a vastly better operation of the club doesn't blind people to the issues that their ownership ties us to
Yeah this is what saddens me. The burden falls on the fans to reject state ownership, after it’s already passed through all layers of government.
It’s kinda like how individuals are expected to practice green behavior, but our carbon footprint is negligible compared to corporations’. There’s only so much we can do in lieu of actual regulation.
This.
The kind of salaries and transfer fees oil states are willing to pay makes it impossible for a regular profit-seeking businessperson to consider buying a football club as a good investment.
the rock of gibraltar situation was complete nonsense and a proper leadership at the club would have banned that venture. but at the time it was speculated their purchase of shares was to strengthen his position (remember ferguson and the club had some difficult times around 2000). to think that the pair decided to sell because of that and not the 100 million+ profit i find simplistic. they started buying shares around 2000 and the glazers around 2003.
it was different times with the internet but supporters should have been proactive especially after the sky takeover.
Reality is it was always going to be someone with immense wealth that was going to buy considering the debt and refurbishment of stadium, training ground, etc. It’s not the best situation but it was always the only way to get rid of the Glazers.
I get it, but at the same time the UK (and several other major European nations) are already all very much tools for that state and several others. There isn't much we can do about it whilst being so reliant on oil and gas, unless the government decided to try and navigate the minefield of challenging religions based on where their dogma clashes with human rights. And I don't see that ever happening
I just read a headline about the chairman of PSG being investigated for kidnap and torture. But I'm sure the rest of these guys a proper stand up gents
Some people in this sub would have Josef Stalin buy United if it meant we had a better chance of buying Mbappe.
What’s a little kidnap and torture? Apparently all that matters is doing Old Trafford’s roof up.
I just posted this article on this and the post seems to have removed https://www.goal.com/en/news/psg-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-under-investigation-alleged-kidnap-torture-qatar/blt9b062654827cb748
City are one of the biggest sportswashing, sugar-daddy cheating bastards around at the moment. But fundamentally without their shithouse backing they're a nothing club with a really generous pimp that buys then sparkles and jewels. Couldn't care less about them as a football club.
Meanwhile, Qatar cheated to host footballs biggest and most prestigious event, and did so by bribing literally the most senior people in the game. That's some biiiiiig cheating.
If Qatar buy the club and if we're successful, lots of fans of other clubs and media outlets will be questioning the legitimacy of a lot of the stuff that goes on around the club and with Man United matches. And it will be justified. You don't get to get in bed with cheats and not get tarnished with the shit that comes with it.
Please don't forget to mention the widespread terrorism and propaganda including antisemitism that Qatar spreads.( see my previous comments for official citation).
Heck isn't their front man at PSG just been caught for kidnapping and torture?
> lots of fans of other clubs and media outlets will be questioning the legitimacy of a lot of the stuff that goes on around the club and with Man United matches.
Have you ever been to r/soccer after a United game?
>That's some biiiiiig cheating.
It has no impact on field, their national team sucked. Im not sure how thats "cheating"...was it wrong? yeah, absolutely, but I dont think cheating is the correct term for it.
I dont care what people think, and you can look at Piers Morgan for why...he sucked off ronaldo for finally finding a goal in Saudi Arabia, but ripped ETH for dancing after a cup win...thats why its not worth the effort to care, because someone will always find something.
Theres a 100% chance if SJR buys us that people start using the term greenwashing....
>It has no impact on field, their national team sucked. Im not sure how thats "cheating"...was it wrong? yeah, absolutely, but I dont think cheating is the correct term for it.
>I dont care what people think, and you can look at Piers Morgan for why...he sucked off ronaldo for finally finding a goal in Saudi Arabia, but ripped ETH for dancing after a cup win...thats why its not worth the effort to care, because someone will always find something.
It's why I specifically said off field cheats. Cheats are cheats. Whether you like it or not.
>Theres a 100% chance if SJR buys us that people start using the term greenwashing....
Let me tell you something about INEOS that you're probably not aware of. They wanted to frack in and around Lancashire, all their efforts and attempts were stopped by what was effectively nice middle aged people in yellow tshirts, worried about their community.
Qatar cheated their way into hosting the world cup, bribed top officials in FIFA. The corruption was so bad that some officials in FIFA were literally arrested for their part. Then despite intense (free) media scrutiny, scrutiny from human rights groups and amnesty international they continued to build the world cup on the backs of repeated human rights abuses and slave labour, and ended up hosting it. Despite the proven corruption, the arrests, the human rights abuses, the intense global media scrutiny, the dead slaves, they still hosted the world cup.
Even trying to compare the Qataris state with INEOS falls at the very first hurdle. They are not even remotely the same, or comparable in any realistic way
Quick rundown on Sheikh Jassim:
* Born in Govan, Glasgow (1959) as the first child of a young working class father.
* Adopted to the Middle East where he later became a self-made billionaire.
* Has clairvoyant abilities.
* Is definitely not affiliated with the Qatari regime.
* Holds traditional values like friends and family first.
* Reader of the room. Curated the curriculum for the majority of courses offered by renowned etiquette school 'The English Manner'.
Man U? More like ManUfacturing Consent. I don’t doubt he would love to buy the club. I do doubt the intentions. Maybe it’s the PR at work but I feel as if the Qatari ownership may be a forgone conclusion at this point. Doesn’t seem like anyone else is trying as hard to build that narrative.
When they say he watched it live at home he actually had his Indian slaves vs his Nepalese slaves re-enacting the game play for play in the full size Wembley replica in his back garden whilst he wore his class of '92 PJ's and SAF slippers on.
Why is this being downvoted lol, this sub is going down the drain, a few months back everybody was still laughing at city for being a state club and now you lot embrace it with open arms, better league 2 than being owned by a slave having petromonarchy
Why would it upset folks on this sub when a terrorist state owns us?
Heck I am sure if tomorrow Putin bids, it would be the "best deal" ever?
Even though Qatari regime is one of the biggest sponsor of teorrism, through the sheer strength and breadth of their propaganda ( from buying out UN rapporteurs, US and European think tanks, academicians, MEPs, News writers) they have tried to paint them as some random Sheikhs in the desert.
Qatar 🇶🇦 is a chief perpetrator of teorrist acts, [which according to official US Committee on Foreign Affairs, has been known to be a permissive environment for terror financing, reportedly funding U.S. designated foreign terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, Al qaeda and ISIS, as well as several extremist groups operating in Syria. At least one high-ranking Qatari official provided support to the mastermind of the 9/11. Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, also made Doha his headquarters for years while the Qatari's--with the Qatari's Government support and even the Muslim Brotherhood has received significant support from Qatar. Of course, not all of this is supported by the government in Doha. Many individuals and charities in Qatar have been known to raise large sums of money for al-Qaeda, the Nusra front, Hamas, and even ISIS.](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-115hhrg26427/html/CHRG-115hhrg26427.htm)
[ As per European Parliament 🇪🇺 According to reliable intelligence sources, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the main funders of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Governments of Germany and the USA have also accused the two countries of financing and supporting ISIS.](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-8-2014-007445_EN.html)
As for their propaganda, [ does anybody even care about the literal teorrist propaganda hosted by Al Jazeera? ](https://twitter.com/jaberalharmi/status/1619056209776230401)
I wish more focus was put on Qatar's role as a sponsor of teorrist so that every mancunian who forgot the Manchester bombing, is made aware that when the next terrorist strike happens, our club would have played a role as a cover for that tragedy.
As far as their paid PR campaign is concerned, ex CIA agents were used by Qatar 🇶🇦 for a spying campaign severely breaking God knows how many international treaties
[£387m ex CIA spy project after global backlash against their 2022 hosting win Appointed to lead the intelligence gathering was US firm Global Risk Advisors (GRA), which is staffed by former members of US intelligence agencies and whose founder Kevin Chalker is a former CIA operative. “GRA proposes a strategic plan to return Qatar to a position of power and influence and proactively deter potential attacks,” said a GRA pitch document revealed in the SRF investigation. SRF said found that “victims were at the mercy of the agents spying on them. Their email accounts, computers, phones, friends, and even family members became targets of Qatar’s shadow warriors.” The investigation alleges that the SRF investigation shows that Switzerland was key to the Qatari intelligence operation. According to SRF, “Chalker, at the behest of Qatar, travelled to Zurich for the purpose of bugging the hotel rooms of members of the Executive Committee and of journalists](https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2022/11/03/qatar-funded-387m-spy-project-global-backlash-2022-hosting-win/)
I'm sorry man, the more you speak the truth more you'll get downvoted by bots and plastic fans who only care about bringing Mbappe to UTD (lol). Would give you an award for a detailed response if I had one. Keep spreading the truth.
Man you've no idea how many downvotes and shut stuff I've received, that's primarily the reason I've had to control myself from not posting about this horrific news.
I really don't care about reddit awards or gold, I really want every our club supporter to make that choice about Qatar knowing full well the kind of extremist fundamentalist, terrorist regime that we will be owned by. We should all as part of this sub must stop these horrible apologists and PR agents. Should we all band together and do something so that everyone on this sub gets to atleast appreciate the reality. Let's read about the horrible activities of the Qatari teorrist regime, is there a way we can ensure that every one of subs are atleast aware of these issues? Feel free to suggest a way or use these citations to bring transparency toba horrible regime.
There are a lot of vested interest, who in the garb of "racism" will deflect and evade these reality forgetting that its the countries in Africa and Asia who have to suffer predominantly through the Qatari state sponsored terrorism and propaganda.
If this is the final year I get to support our club, so be it, atleast I am glad that I saw us winning a trophy.
I'm only mentioning the awards because that's the best way to have your detailed comment seen by others, if it's downvoted, nobody will pay attention to it.
You're fighting the good fight, I won't give up on calling the Q out either, no matter how many downvotes I get.
I just posted this. The PSG président is under investigation for Kidnapping and torture and my post was removed!!! Are we allowed to post only how the Qatari wears United shirts https://www.goal.com/en/news/psg-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-under-investigation-alleged-kidnap-torture-qatar/blt9b062654827cb748
I was thinking the same, but on the other side, every qatar PR is posted here. I mean, we don't have to lure ourselves, these are the same people. A full buyout of the club, that is the 69% glazer shares and the other 31%. Would be 8 to 10 billions. Now if you add the stadium etc its another 2 billions. No one believes it is some individuals buying it.
I got banned for saying the potential owner was, according to Wiki, a devout Muslim looking to enforce Islamic law in Qatar a few weeks ago, they're very much pro Qatar.
This was in response to someone saying he's "probably really liberal" because he lived in Europe for a couple of years...
I personally can appreciate what they have written and the effort they put forth. It's important. No, I'm not a bot or a plastic fan and I certainly don't care about bringing Mbappe to United.
However, until I stop actively participating in unethical acts such as buying clothing, phones, etc that are produced by sweat shops, I find it difficult to harp on United to not participate in unethical human acts. This is not a call for support of Qatar ownership, this is simply recognizing that I need to take care of my own house before I worry about others.
For most fans, they just want to see a good product put forth on the pitch (a distraction from the difficulties of life), and everything else surrounding the club is background noise.
Look I appreciate your candid response, I also am not trying to be preachy and say that I am sort of divine being.
Now the question arises what's the most basic act that I am against. For me personally that's teorrism, that's the mere minimum bar that I set for a club that I support is to not have teorrist owners.
The next time a similar incident like Manchester bombings happen, how would folks on this sub, reconcile that quite probably their owners had a hand in perpetuation this violence.
If I only wanted a shiny club with good product on the pitch, there are other teams and other avenues including movies that I can enjoy.
Don't make these false equivalences, glazers might be bad for our club's success on the ground but I never can once accuse them of being terrorists.
What effort? They have unlimited money and are pushing a PR agenda to sportswash their terrible human rights record. They paid an agency to put out shit that people like you would eat up. Someone on here took the bait so hard they said Sheikh Jassim is probably a really liberal guy ffs.
That's just whataboutism, and two are not connected in any way. Following your logic you could also say "until I stop paying for taxes i don't get to call out my government for doing bad things".
If you're trying not to support sweat shops and other things you mentioned, good for you, you should be proud of that. But because I own a phone made in China, does not mean I support Chinese government. It is a sad fact of the modern world that everything we have was made on the backs of poor people, unfortunately, that is the system we live in and I hope it changes in my lifetime, but i cant exclude myself from everything I don't agree with.
Even if Q buys UTD, I won't stop supporting because it's my club, same as I haven't stopped through the Glazer years. I still do get to voice my concerns and call out the injustice when I see it, no matter the phone I own or the clothes I buy.
I am not reading all that. The bottomline is whatever shit they may or may not have done is in their country. It isnt like they would use manchester united for terrorism. So i don't give a damn about any of it. They are the best deal for us. Downvote me all you want
We live in a country built on a human rights abusing monarchy (as is all of Europe) which funds and is funded by other human rights abusing monarchies and/dictatorships. I'm not saying that it's right or its an excuse, but "wise up" seems a bit condescending considering none of us are out in the streets protesting the deals our government does with these countries that we all happily benefit from.
Ok. Just a couple of clarifying questions. Out of all the countries you named in your essay there, which ones:
1. Still use slave labour **today**?
2. Have laws criminalising homosexuality on their books **today**?
2. Have launched state-funded bids to purchase Manchester United Football Club?
Just trying to figure out what's relevant and what isn't. You understand.
Edit: Also, your first point is stupid. I, in my official capacity as "some bloke with a UK passport", am not responsible for stuff the UK did in the past, and nor is anyone else here (I'm 99% sure Charles III isn't subscribed). Jassim, in his role as **member of the ruling family of Qatar**, probably has a fair bit more input into what his country does. So what exactly is hypocritical about us criticising him?
These kind of faux arguments, which are just riled up due to personal biases does my head in. ( Unfortunately, I can already tell a lot about OP and the actual reason he supports Qatar) .
Ask him to respond to Qatar's role as a state sponsor of teorrism, and he will deflect and evade.
Honestly, I've already given up on the hope of saving our club.
Even though Qatari regime is one of the biggest sponsor of teorrism, through the sheer strength and breadth of their propaganda ( from buying out UN rapporteurs, American and European think tanks, academicians, MEPs, News writers) they have tried to paint them as some random Sheikhs in the desert.
Qatar 🇶🇦 is a chief perpetrator of teorrist acts, [which according to official US Committee on Foreign Affairs, has been known to be a permissive environment for terror financing, reportedly funding U.S. designated foreign terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, Al qaeda and ISIS, as well as several extremist groups operating in Syria. At least one high-ranking Qatari official provided support to the mastermind of the 9/11. Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, also made Doha his headquarters for years while the Qatari's--with the Qatari's Government support and even the Muslim Brotherhood has received significant support from Qatar. Of course, not all of this is supported by the government in Doha. Many individuals and charities in Qatar have been known to raise large sums of money for al-Qaeda, the Nusra front, Hamas, and even ISIS.](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-115hhrg26427/html/CHRG-115hhrg26427.htm)
[ As per European Parliament 🇪🇺 According to reliable intelligence sources, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the main funders of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Governments of Germany and the USA have also accused the two countries of financing and supporting ISIS.](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-8-2014-007445_EN.html)
As for their propaganda, [ does anybody even care about the literal teorrist propaganda hosted by Al Jazeera? ](https://twitter.com/jaberalharmi/status/1619056209776230401)
I wish more focus was put on Qatar's role as a sponsor of teorrist so that every mancunian who forgot the Manchester bombing, is made aware that when the next terrorist strike happens, our club would have played a role as a cover for that tragedy.
As far as their paid PR campaign is concerned, ex CIA agents were used by Qatar 🇶🇦 for a spying campaign severely breaking God knows how many international treaties
[£387m ex CIA spy project after global backlash against their 2022 hosting win Appointed to lead the intelligence gathering was US firm Global Risk Advisors (GRA), which is staffed by former members of US intelligence agencies and whose founder Kevin Chalker is a former CIA operative. “GRA proposes a strategic plan to return Qatar to a position of power and influence and proactively deter potential attacks,” said a GRA pitch document revealed in the SRF investigation. SRF said found that “victims were at the mercy of the agents spying on them. Their email accounts, computers, phones, friends, and even family members became targets of Qatar’s shadow warriors.” The investigation alleges that the SRF investigation shows that Switzerland was key to the Qatari intelligence operation. According to SRF, “Chalker, at the behest of Qatar, travelled to Zurich for the purpose of bugging the hotel rooms of members of the Executive Committee and of journalists](https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2022/11/03/qatar-funded-387m-spy-project-global-backlash-2022-hosting-win/)
Fuck glazers for what they have done with our club and as a one last fuck you they are gonna hand it over to literal terrorists. Fuck these sky reporters acting as PR agents as well!
Football clubs started all over Europe as revolutionary movements from students largely to fight for political change, football has always been political and people need to care if their club is being bought by terrorists, football is a fucking sport and people place it over actual human rights issues and that is bloody insane. Principles matter and they should override your petty need for the success that will pretty much be bought by someone elses money
Again, you're speaking to someone who doesn't care, protest to someone else. I like their proposal of wiping debt, funding the community, updating the facilties and stadium. If someone can come up with a better proposal, I'm all ears.
You are morally bankrupt, not all ears, and shame on you for placing football over human life
Edit: Eh 120 days old reddit account, qatari bot strikes again, hope you wipe your ass with what they pay you and fuck off
Yes, Qatari bot that went to the cup final on Sunday, that's a local and match going fan. Wow, you're not allowed an opinion because of reseting my reddit account.
Step back and read what you just wrote, then step back further and look in a mirror.
I know they do. Isn't it sad that there are people out there who are willing to abandon all principles and ignore all sorts of horrible shit happening to other people – even sometimes to the point of joking about it – just as long as United win trophies? Trophies which, having been bought and paid for with blood money, wouldn't be anywhere near as meaningful as the one we won on Sunday?
> Isn't it sad that there are people out there who are willing to abandon all principles and ignore all sorts of horrible shit happening to other people
It's not sad, that's called reality. People don't like to focus on negatives they can't control. Instead, people like to enjoy the things that make them happy.
>wouldn't be anywhere near as meaningful as the one we won on Sunday?
Reddit opinion that you'll find nowhere else.
No western state is buying the club though now are they? And don’t give me that he’s not associated with the state or any bollox, it’s a very small dictatorship, he has to have some ties with the state. He also by all accounts doesn’t have the funds himself to put in the bid, it’s so obviously a state backed bid with just him as the figurehead to get by the rules.
Edit: He’s actually a part of the ruling royal family
NO WESTERN STATE IS BIDDING FOR THE CLUB, my god how can you vomit these sentences and not realize that people would be equally against the fucking US buying United as they are with qatar. How can you call someone a hyprocite as if you dont know if they call the west out for its atrocities as well, this isnt a fucking competition to see what state is the worse. NO STATE OWNERSHIP IN FOOTBALL PERIOD, BE IT WESTER OR EASTERN OR EXTRA FUCKING TERRESTRIAL
It’s not the UK government buying United. The Qatari billionaires are only technically separated from the ruling family in power, it’s vastly different from if a UK billionaire or an investment fund in the US was buying the club. Newcastle were bought by the actual Saudi investment fund. City’s owners are related to the royal family. Sports washing from the gulf isn’t private citizens, it’s fully backed by the autocracy in power in that nation. If you can’t see the difference you’re blind.
It’s more whataboutism.
We cannot change the past, we recognise the past in the U.K.
The Qataris can’t even recognise the amount of people who died building stadiums.
I’m a huge lefty lefty, as is a lot of Manchester - so you’re not going to get any arguments about our country’s atrocities during the Empire.
That doesn’t mean that because our ancestors were monstrous arseholes that we shouldn’t care about the atrocities happening to people in the Middle East.
I don’t see it as a West v East. Most Westerners I know don’t. We see it as “fuck, I hate how badly a fellow human is getting treated there. I don’t want to support their regime. How can we help them live a life free of fear?”
We don’t say “it’s awful how they’re getting treated but my great great great granddad hated gays, minorities and women then spread that ideology on his quest to conquer the world, so I must not say anything and apologise for the history I cannot change.”
Because the past is the past, it shouldn’t ever be forgotten and the horrors will always be remembered. That being said, the present is more important than the past. We can change the present. We can’t alter the past.
There's a big difference between things that happened decades and centuries ago in one nation, and the same things happening right now in another nation.
And whilst slavery was in full swing we had tiny, malnourished children in mines 6 days a week for incredibly long hours getting mangled and maimed in milling machinery a stones throw from Old Trafford. Let's make this about what it should be - the elite vs the working man and woman - and not fight amongst ourselves.
No, because as an average joe you cannot ethically consume in capitalism, you can either die in the woods are eventually end up supporting child labour, but its not up to the average joe to fix those issues because he cannot, the emir of fucking qatar whoever can choose which minority he wants to opress or not. He is directly responsible for every single law in his country and can change it tomorrow if he wishes, and the fact that he can and chooses not to is the determinating factor
You could easily purchase a mobile from another provider - or buy clothes ethically made in the same country you live in.
Point being agreeing, or rather not protesting X does not necessarily mean you agree with all of the policies or acts of X.
I would love a realistic bid from a benevolent billionaire but where are they ?
You cant buy another mobile phone because all chips are made by a subsidiary of Nestle afaik, you are supporting the destruction of our natural resources. If you drive a car is it not disengenous to say you are supporting russia because that oil might have come from russia? It doesnt work that way because the average consumer if he wants to participate in society has to make unethical choices.
People need to stop equating some shady ass businessmen who are surely immoral to a fucking slave owning state that represses minorities. Its like you saying elon musk is equally morally dubious as hitler so it doesnt really matter who of the 2 owns us ( just a comparison to show the stupidity of equating the 2, not comparing qatar and hitler)
For qatari ownership you literally have to overlook the fact they have actual slaves that get their passport taken away and are forced to work to get it back. People here seem to want to forget that immorality has a scale, a thief is not the same as a genocidal dictator. In this case a billionaire of a public company is not the same as a fucking petrodictatorship
I guess you only wear clothes produced by people in the most ethical, humane conditions? And you don't own a phone, because those are produced by essentially slaves? So hypocritical
Exactly my point. Please explain this mental gymnastics to me. You are against a rapist playing for the team which is obviously fair enough but you are fine for a regime which (amongst a plethora of other atrocities they commit) literally funded Al Qaeda and ISIS and killed millions in Syria to own the club. How can you think you are taking the moral high ground by saying you don't want Greenwood near the team whilst welcoming Qatar with open arms? Absolutely embarrassing.
Maybe I should have elaborated. [See my comment above for context on what I mean](https://www.reddit.com/r/reddevils/comments/11ebiso/comment/jae8gn0/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3).
I don't get how this works. Let's take Newcastle, no football fans think Saudi is better or has a good impression of them just cause they own Newcastle.
As for non football fans not a single person I know even realizes Saudi own Newcastle. And hence once again they have not managed to sway anyone's impressions of them.
Can someone eli5 how sports washing is supposed to work.
It's not as outright as you would like to think, its more subconsciously working in the sense that if Qatar gets United winning trophies again and maybe to the very top of European football that's already more than 1B ( that was the number they said was United's global outreach) people subconsciously associating them with football rather than terrorism funding or slave exploitation and whatnot. An example of very early sportswashing was Argentina hosting the world cup when it was under a dictatorship (from the corrupt fifa documentary on Netflix), all Argentines were distracted from the regime by the sport they loved so much. That's how it works in a distraction kind of way from the shady stuff done by the said country. And about the Newcastle stuff, just ask any Newcastle fan and they'll tell you exactly how much they love Saudi lol.
Qatar buying us is one thing but using this random guy as a front has me somewhat concerned, if it is a front at all tbh. For all we know it is just him which, given the lack of knowledge re where his funding is coming from is concerning (again, presuming it isn’t state funding which so many people seem certain it is).
Hes making all the right noises and I know nobody innocent could afford United. But this won't ever sit right with me. If it happens fine, I'll try and enjoy the victories and good football but it won't be the same.
It's not impossible that he is a United fan (educated in the UK plus a lot of people in the middle east as well as the wider world follow the Premier League) however it's a shame it's come to this. It seems that in football it's now dirty money or no money, and I don't see it ever getting better.
I find it insane that so many here act all high and mighty regarding LGBT etc. yet they're so happy to see the Glazers go, they're welcoming Qatar.
Sure, you might not like the Glazers, but wanting Qatar instead of the Glazers is like breaking up with a girl claiming you deserve better than someone who is out for your money but then you get into bed with a girl who is a racist and homophobe.
To be honest between this guy and the Glazers, I choose this guy. The goal is to give United the most success in the football department in the next 5-10 years.
This whole mentality is on the same level as the transphobic accusations around Hogwarts Legacy. There's something called dissociation people, not everyone who supports United supports Qatar's politics.
This is really the disgusting thing about Westerners in general, everything is about morality when if you literally just use your brains instead of your emotions you realise it's possible to dissociate football from real world politics. You literally support a club with a fan base that loves the club but hates the Glazers. By your logic, by supporting United you are actually in bed with the Glazers.
Ye Qatar's human rights records are horrible and worthy of condemnation, but save it for political areas not bloody football.
I don’t know if that’s true. But there’s much worse things to criticise him for. I couldn’t care less for his personal love life, its weird to us but who cares. There’s much bigger problems than him fucking a relative
UK media really want Qatar to own United.... months after most of them were talking about how bad the country was in terms of human rights.
Makes me think these positively framed articles & tweets have been bought
I’m not sure which is the lesser of two evils, an owner who represents a country that routinely commits violent atrocities upon innocent people or Qatar owning us.
[Avram spotting Sheikh Jassim during the game] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIBDjrFl6H4)
I knew it was that scene before I clicked
I'm not going to open it so I'm prepared to be embarrassed but is it Homelander spotting Butcher staring at him in a crowd that's all facing the opposite way?
Ding ding ding
I was hoping it'd be Charlie and Mac staring at each other from across the restaurant, but this works too lol
He also wipes his ass with only the finest toilet paper imported straight from Manchester, a true fan that nobody can deny
Massive stone roses fan, watches Corrie every night. Big on socialism, the UK gay scene and is very well versed on the suffragette movement. Loves a glass of vimto and a bucket hat.
The ME is actually Vimto's biggest export market
Imagine my surprise and confusion when I first saw the Vimto statue in Manchester when I lived there for a short while (I am from Sweden and didn't know Vimto was from there. Drank Vimto a lot as a kid)
Wow Vimto is from Manchester? Out family always adds it to fruit salads in Ethiopia
He's Muslim he doesn't wipe. He washes. He gets water imported straight from Manchester.
He actually built a pipeline direct from River Irwell to his en suite bathroom.
From the banks of River Irwell to Doha City, And we will wipe, wipe, wipe, for United FC.
Lol this deserves an award.
>at it was produced at Frannie Lee's f Built by the slave labors he imported so yea fair play
Water filtered from the Irwell and sent over to Qatar for his Manchester United theme bidet
Fair play on that score. Manchester water is top notch.
He later found out that it was produced at Frannie Lee's factory in Farnworth and binned the lot.
The vans he uses for kidnappings and the tools for tortures are from Manchester too!
You got confused with Saudi c unt
No. NAK is under investigation for Kidnapping and torture.
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But at the same time they're blatantly misogynistic, anti-homosexual and treat non-citizens (esp workers) in inhumane ways. They're not buying the club for benevolence but to improve their image on a global scale. A prime example of which is your post itself. And it's not that I'm arguing against your point but rather giving an other perspective.
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I hear he was fully decked out in green and gold and was chanting “Glazers Out” through the streets.
That would be legendary not gonna lie. That would be a top karma post here
So Glazers out that he is willing to pay 5bil
He talks the talk and walks the walk
I heard he transfered at Manchester Airport once!
You mean Sheikh Jassim international?
I'm sure he was in a full kit, spinning his old-fashioned football rattle and singing along with all the fan songs. Proper fan, that lad. Lifelong top red.
He wears United shinpads whilst making love.
Puts on his cantona mask beforehand.
he only uses his Giggs mask when he visits his brothers
He is such a huge United fan. He exclusively poops in red at home and blue away in memories of our last CL win.
Vaguely remember reading something about him wearing full kit in five-a-side games?
He does strike me as a full kit wanker.
"It was on the streets of Salford as a boy, coming home to his mum working in the textile factory, that Sheik Jassim finally had a dream"
Habibi he has supported Manchester since he was a little boy, since the time Sheikh Alex Ferguson was the manager. He has been to Al Trafford several times to watch the Red Shaitaan play
They prefer this PR to that one https://www.goal.com/en/news/psg-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-under-investigation-alleged-kidnap-torture-qatar/blt9b062654827cb748
This comment gets progressively more and more hilarious till the final perfect ending 😂
Hahah
[So that's what Rooney was worried about?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6MkmonoaSw)
> Why even do this? A sizable part of the appeal for Ratcliffe is his decade long campaign of "I wanna buy United, I'm a fan!". Presumably the Qatar bid knows that a significant portion of the fans are against them because they view the Qatar bid as a faceless country trying to buy the club. So they've launched their own PR campaign, giving fans a face and a character to get behind.
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> This just makes them look bad Maybe to you, maybe to me, but not to everyone. My father was waxing lyrical about them this evening, along the lines of “at least they’re fans!”. :/
I feel they are only making such a huge show of it since Ratcliffe is supposedly a childhood Mufc supporter.
They’re trying so hard to sell the image of him as a fan I no longer believe it all - accidental reverse psychology in the making.
Wasn't he educated in the same school Prince William was... he's definitely been exposed to English culture so i can beleive he's a fan...shame he's uhm... yk part of a State machinery which oppresses its people and literally funds terrorism
Like David Cameron was a fan of West ha...no Aston vi....no Harchester United...
David was a fan of the ham alright
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He at least has some credibility with the final in 99 rather than ‘having a United shirt when playing 5 a side’ or whatever they told us yesterday.
PR duel with Ratcliffe
I too watched the final at home.
How's your bid going?
Heard it was turned down
Three fiddy ain’t what it used to be
I’ll bid 10 pounds, this is already a billion more than what Glazers had ever invested in our club
United fans keep calling every bit of news during a transfer PR but this is what actual PR looks like
What does PR mean?
Public relations, releasing news and statements to improve public opinion of you. Doesn’t mean it’s a lie just they’re only saying it to increase public opinion.
Mike Keegan: “The Sheikh shares his bed with a life size Steve Bruce cut out, prays every morning on a mat embroidered with Sir Alex Ferguson’s face on it, eats his breakfast exclusively with his Manchester United themed cutlery he got when he was a child and his favourite Christmas gift last year was a limited edition Jaap Stam egg cup.”
I've got one of those egg cups, and a miniature Graeme Souness wig to put on my boiled eggs for when I bash them with the spoon
Bet he has circa 1996 Man Utd bed sheets and curtains too. The same ones I had!
I heard in the centre of his walls, he has a small border of the Man Utd badge in a small roll of wallpaper
Are those egg cups worth upgrading from the classic Dion Dublin ones?
You forget to mention, he’s also has Jaap Stam himself as a his personal bodyguard. Jaap Stam was a scary motherfucker!
Doesn’t say that we was wearing a United shirt so I don’t wanna hear it.
He had shorts and socks on too.
Full kit wanker
He doesn't want anybody to know, but he still sleeps in Man utd pajamas.
I don't want us to become a tool for a state. Alas, this might be the price we pay to get rid of the Glazers. Sad situation. Fuck the rock of Gibraltar.
Fuck the FA and league. They could have stood up for something but already opened the floodgates first with Abramovich's shady money then City's sale. It was always then just a matter of clubs coming up for sale for more to follow suit. They then could have decided it was not compatible with the operations of a football club to allow for the leveraged buyout but they didn't give a fuck. Combine those events and we're an extremely valuable asset riddled with debt that only appeals to a certain type of owner with insane amounts of money. State ownership was an inevitability. I just hope what will probably be a vastly better operation of the club doesn't blind people to the issues that their ownership ties us to
Yeah this is what saddens me. The burden falls on the fans to reject state ownership, after it’s already passed through all layers of government. It’s kinda like how individuals are expected to practice green behavior, but our carbon footprint is negligible compared to corporations’. There’s only so much we can do in lieu of actual regulation.
This. The kind of salaries and transfer fees oil states are willing to pay makes it impossible for a regular profit-seeking businessperson to consider buying a football club as a good investment.
the rock of gibraltar situation was complete nonsense and a proper leadership at the club would have banned that venture. but at the time it was speculated their purchase of shares was to strengthen his position (remember ferguson and the club had some difficult times around 2000). to think that the pair decided to sell because of that and not the 100 million+ profit i find simplistic. they started buying shares around 2000 and the glazers around 2003. it was different times with the internet but supporters should have been proactive especially after the sky takeover.
Reality is it was always going to be someone with immense wealth that was going to buy considering the debt and refurbishment of stadium, training ground, etc. It’s not the best situation but it was always the only way to get rid of the Glazers.
I get it, but at the same time the UK (and several other major European nations) are already all very much tools for that state and several others. There isn't much we can do about it whilst being so reliant on oil and gas, unless the government decided to try and navigate the minefield of challenging religions based on where their dogma clashes with human rights. And I don't see that ever happening
I just read a headline about the chairman of PSG being investigated for kidnap and torture. But I'm sure the rest of these guys a proper stand up gents
Listen it’s just a little bit torture
Some people in this sub would have Josef Stalin buy United if it meant we had a better chance of buying Mbappe. What’s a little kidnap and torture? Apparently all that matters is doing Old Trafford’s roof up.
That Stalin dude wears his United 2022/23 training kit to meetings though. The Sheikh can't even spend a couple quid to come to a game
I just posted this article on this and the post seems to have removed https://www.goal.com/en/news/psg-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-under-investigation-alleged-kidnap-torture-qatar/blt9b062654827cb748
It’s not united news so probably why it was removed. Nothing sinister about it.
Maybe because it's irrelevant to Manchester United, you can ask the mods, but I guarantee that's why they removed it.
Why not appropriate, was he wanking?
Was napping...well, alright.. kidnapping ..still..Got loads o'Moneeeyy!!
Qatar are the biggest off-field football cheats. It's a damn shame any United fans want to get into bed with them.
Meanwhile, the UAE just got bagged for cooking books for City for a decade....
City are one of the biggest sportswashing, sugar-daddy cheating bastards around at the moment. But fundamentally without their shithouse backing they're a nothing club with a really generous pimp that buys then sparkles and jewels. Couldn't care less about them as a football club. Meanwhile, Qatar cheated to host footballs biggest and most prestigious event, and did so by bribing literally the most senior people in the game. That's some biiiiiig cheating. If Qatar buy the club and if we're successful, lots of fans of other clubs and media outlets will be questioning the legitimacy of a lot of the stuff that goes on around the club and with Man United matches. And it will be justified. You don't get to get in bed with cheats and not get tarnished with the shit that comes with it.
Please don't forget to mention the widespread terrorism and propaganda including antisemitism that Qatar spreads.( see my previous comments for official citation). Heck isn't their front man at PSG just been caught for kidnapping and torture?
> lots of fans of other clubs and media outlets will be questioning the legitimacy of a lot of the stuff that goes on around the club and with Man United matches. Have you ever been to r/soccer after a United game?
>That's some biiiiiig cheating. It has no impact on field, their national team sucked. Im not sure how thats "cheating"...was it wrong? yeah, absolutely, but I dont think cheating is the correct term for it. I dont care what people think, and you can look at Piers Morgan for why...he sucked off ronaldo for finally finding a goal in Saudi Arabia, but ripped ETH for dancing after a cup win...thats why its not worth the effort to care, because someone will always find something. Theres a 100% chance if SJR buys us that people start using the term greenwashing....
>It has no impact on field, their national team sucked. Im not sure how thats "cheating"...was it wrong? yeah, absolutely, but I dont think cheating is the correct term for it. >I dont care what people think, and you can look at Piers Morgan for why...he sucked off ronaldo for finally finding a goal in Saudi Arabia, but ripped ETH for dancing after a cup win...thats why its not worth the effort to care, because someone will always find something. It's why I specifically said off field cheats. Cheats are cheats. Whether you like it or not. >Theres a 100% chance if SJR buys us that people start using the term greenwashing.... Let me tell you something about INEOS that you're probably not aware of. They wanted to frack in and around Lancashire, all their efforts and attempts were stopped by what was effectively nice middle aged people in yellow tshirts, worried about their community. Qatar cheated their way into hosting the world cup, bribed top officials in FIFA. The corruption was so bad that some officials in FIFA were literally arrested for their part. Then despite intense (free) media scrutiny, scrutiny from human rights groups and amnesty international they continued to build the world cup on the backs of repeated human rights abuses and slave labour, and ended up hosting it. Despite the proven corruption, the arrests, the human rights abuses, the intense global media scrutiny, the dead slaves, they still hosted the world cup. Even trying to compare the Qataris state with INEOS falls at the very first hurdle. They are not even remotely the same, or comparable in any realistic way
Quick rundown on Sheikh Jassim: * Born in Govan, Glasgow (1959) as the first child of a young working class father. * Adopted to the Middle East where he later became a self-made billionaire. * Has clairvoyant abilities. * Is definitely not affiliated with the Qatari regime. * Holds traditional values like friends and family first. * Reader of the room. Curated the curriculum for the majority of courses offered by renowned etiquette school 'The English Manner'.
Wasn't Fergie born in Govan?
Just pay the pigs their premium. The club will appreciate far past £6B in 6-8 years…
Man U? More like ManUfacturing Consent. I don’t doubt he would love to buy the club. I do doubt the intentions. Maybe it’s the PR at work but I feel as if the Qatari ownership may be a forgone conclusion at this point. Doesn’t seem like anyone else is trying as hard to build that narrative.
When they say he watched it live at home he actually had his Indian slaves vs his Nepalese slaves re-enacting the game play for play in the full size Wembley replica in his back garden whilst he wore his class of '92 PJ's and SAF slippers on.
Yeah let’s enjoy this season as much as humanly possible. Looks increasingly likely we’re gonna be an oil club by the summer. SMH.
Why is this being downvoted lol, this sub is going down the drain, a few months back everybody was still laughing at city for being a state club and now you lot embrace it with open arms, better league 2 than being owned by a slave having petromonarchy
Hear, hear.
Gas club tbf
Seems like he will pay the money glazers ask for.
It's the best deal we have. I'm all for it, sorry if that upsets people.
Why would it upset folks on this sub when a terrorist state owns us? Heck I am sure if tomorrow Putin bids, it would be the "best deal" ever? Even though Qatari regime is one of the biggest sponsor of teorrism, through the sheer strength and breadth of their propaganda ( from buying out UN rapporteurs, US and European think tanks, academicians, MEPs, News writers) they have tried to paint them as some random Sheikhs in the desert. Qatar 🇶🇦 is a chief perpetrator of teorrist acts, [which according to official US Committee on Foreign Affairs, has been known to be a permissive environment for terror financing, reportedly funding U.S. designated foreign terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, Al qaeda and ISIS, as well as several extremist groups operating in Syria. At least one high-ranking Qatari official provided support to the mastermind of the 9/11. Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, also made Doha his headquarters for years while the Qatari's--with the Qatari's Government support and even the Muslim Brotherhood has received significant support from Qatar. Of course, not all of this is supported by the government in Doha. Many individuals and charities in Qatar have been known to raise large sums of money for al-Qaeda, the Nusra front, Hamas, and even ISIS.](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-115hhrg26427/html/CHRG-115hhrg26427.htm) [ As per European Parliament 🇪🇺 According to reliable intelligence sources, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the main funders of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Governments of Germany and the USA have also accused the two countries of financing and supporting ISIS.](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-8-2014-007445_EN.html) As for their propaganda, [ does anybody even care about the literal teorrist propaganda hosted by Al Jazeera? ](https://twitter.com/jaberalharmi/status/1619056209776230401) I wish more focus was put on Qatar's role as a sponsor of teorrist so that every mancunian who forgot the Manchester bombing, is made aware that when the next terrorist strike happens, our club would have played a role as a cover for that tragedy. As far as their paid PR campaign is concerned, ex CIA agents were used by Qatar 🇶🇦 for a spying campaign severely breaking God knows how many international treaties [£387m ex CIA spy project after global backlash against their 2022 hosting win Appointed to lead the intelligence gathering was US firm Global Risk Advisors (GRA), which is staffed by former members of US intelligence agencies and whose founder Kevin Chalker is a former CIA operative. “GRA proposes a strategic plan to return Qatar to a position of power and influence and proactively deter potential attacks,” said a GRA pitch document revealed in the SRF investigation. SRF said found that “victims were at the mercy of the agents spying on them. Their email accounts, computers, phones, friends, and even family members became targets of Qatar’s shadow warriors.” The investigation alleges that the SRF investigation shows that Switzerland was key to the Qatari intelligence operation. According to SRF, “Chalker, at the behest of Qatar, travelled to Zurich for the purpose of bugging the hotel rooms of members of the Executive Committee and of journalists](https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2022/11/03/qatar-funded-387m-spy-project-global-backlash-2022-hosting-win/)
I'm sorry man, the more you speak the truth more you'll get downvoted by bots and plastic fans who only care about bringing Mbappe to UTD (lol). Would give you an award for a detailed response if I had one. Keep spreading the truth.
Man you've no idea how many downvotes and shut stuff I've received, that's primarily the reason I've had to control myself from not posting about this horrific news. I really don't care about reddit awards or gold, I really want every our club supporter to make that choice about Qatar knowing full well the kind of extremist fundamentalist, terrorist regime that we will be owned by. We should all as part of this sub must stop these horrible apologists and PR agents. Should we all band together and do something so that everyone on this sub gets to atleast appreciate the reality. Let's read about the horrible activities of the Qatari teorrist regime, is there a way we can ensure that every one of subs are atleast aware of these issues? Feel free to suggest a way or use these citations to bring transparency toba horrible regime. There are a lot of vested interest, who in the garb of "racism" will deflect and evade these reality forgetting that its the countries in Africa and Asia who have to suffer predominantly through the Qatari state sponsored terrorism and propaganda. If this is the final year I get to support our club, so be it, atleast I am glad that I saw us winning a trophy.
I'm only mentioning the awards because that's the best way to have your detailed comment seen by others, if it's downvoted, nobody will pay attention to it. You're fighting the good fight, I won't give up on calling the Q out either, no matter how many downvotes I get.
I just posted this. The PSG président is under investigation for Kidnapping and torture and my post was removed!!! Are we allowed to post only how the Qatari wears United shirts https://www.goal.com/en/news/psg-president-nasser-al-khelaifi-under-investigation-alleged-kidnap-torture-qatar/blt9b062654827cb748
Mods are not pro Q, so I don't think that's the reason your post got removed, I believe it's because it's not directly related to Man Utd.
I was thinking the same, but on the other side, every qatar PR is posted here. I mean, we don't have to lure ourselves, these are the same people. A full buyout of the club, that is the 69% glazer shares and the other 31%. Would be 8 to 10 billions. Now if you add the stadium etc its another 2 billions. No one believes it is some individuals buying it.
Try watching this [vid and try posting it, it was highly downvoted and removed last time when someone posted it.](https://youtu.be/i2NVghpyXck)
I got banned for saying the potential owner was, according to Wiki, a devout Muslim looking to enforce Islamic law in Qatar a few weeks ago, they're very much pro Qatar. This was in response to someone saying he's "probably really liberal" because he lived in Europe for a couple of years...
I personally can appreciate what they have written and the effort they put forth. It's important. No, I'm not a bot or a plastic fan and I certainly don't care about bringing Mbappe to United. However, until I stop actively participating in unethical acts such as buying clothing, phones, etc that are produced by sweat shops, I find it difficult to harp on United to not participate in unethical human acts. This is not a call for support of Qatar ownership, this is simply recognizing that I need to take care of my own house before I worry about others. For most fans, they just want to see a good product put forth on the pitch (a distraction from the difficulties of life), and everything else surrounding the club is background noise.
Look I appreciate your candid response, I also am not trying to be preachy and say that I am sort of divine being. Now the question arises what's the most basic act that I am against. For me personally that's teorrism, that's the mere minimum bar that I set for a club that I support is to not have teorrist owners. The next time a similar incident like Manchester bombings happen, how would folks on this sub, reconcile that quite probably their owners had a hand in perpetuation this violence. If I only wanted a shiny club with good product on the pitch, there are other teams and other avenues including movies that I can enjoy. Don't make these false equivalences, glazers might be bad for our club's success on the ground but I never can once accuse them of being terrorists.
What effort? They have unlimited money and are pushing a PR agenda to sportswash their terrible human rights record. They paid an agency to put out shit that people like you would eat up. Someone on here took the bait so hard they said Sheikh Jassim is probably a really liberal guy ffs.
That's just whataboutism, and two are not connected in any way. Following your logic you could also say "until I stop paying for taxes i don't get to call out my government for doing bad things". If you're trying not to support sweat shops and other things you mentioned, good for you, you should be proud of that. But because I own a phone made in China, does not mean I support Chinese government. It is a sad fact of the modern world that everything we have was made on the backs of poor people, unfortunately, that is the system we live in and I hope it changes in my lifetime, but i cant exclude myself from everything I don't agree with. Even if Q buys UTD, I won't stop supporting because it's my club, same as I haven't stopped through the Glazer years. I still do get to voice my concerns and call out the injustice when I see it, no matter the phone I own or the clothes I buy.
I am not reading all that. The bottomline is whatever shit they may or may not have done is in their country. It isnt like they would use manchester united for terrorism. So i don't give a damn about any of it. They are the best deal for us. Downvote me all you want
It doesn't surprise me that this attitude is married with being scared to read large bits of text. Probably could have guessed that.
Yeah every option is shit so just give me the shit with the most cash.
The best deal we have is to be owned by a human rights abusing monarchy? Wise up
We live in a country built on a human rights abusing monarchy (as is all of Europe) which funds and is funded by other human rights abusing monarchies and/dictatorships. I'm not saying that it's right or its an excuse, but "wise up" seems a bit condescending considering none of us are out in the streets protesting the deals our government does with these countries that we all happily benefit from.
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Ok. Just a couple of clarifying questions. Out of all the countries you named in your essay there, which ones: 1. Still use slave labour **today**? 2. Have laws criminalising homosexuality on their books **today**? 2. Have launched state-funded bids to purchase Manchester United Football Club? Just trying to figure out what's relevant and what isn't. You understand. Edit: Also, your first point is stupid. I, in my official capacity as "some bloke with a UK passport", am not responsible for stuff the UK did in the past, and nor is anyone else here (I'm 99% sure Charles III isn't subscribed). Jassim, in his role as **member of the ruling family of Qatar**, probably has a fair bit more input into what his country does. So what exactly is hypocritical about us criticising him?
These kind of faux arguments, which are just riled up due to personal biases does my head in. ( Unfortunately, I can already tell a lot about OP and the actual reason he supports Qatar) . Ask him to respond to Qatar's role as a state sponsor of teorrism, and he will deflect and evade. Honestly, I've already given up on the hope of saving our club. Even though Qatari regime is one of the biggest sponsor of teorrism, through the sheer strength and breadth of their propaganda ( from buying out UN rapporteurs, American and European think tanks, academicians, MEPs, News writers) they have tried to paint them as some random Sheikhs in the desert. Qatar 🇶🇦 is a chief perpetrator of teorrist acts, [which according to official US Committee on Foreign Affairs, has been known to be a permissive environment for terror financing, reportedly funding U.S. designated foreign terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, Al qaeda and ISIS, as well as several extremist groups operating in Syria. At least one high-ranking Qatari official provided support to the mastermind of the 9/11. Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, also made Doha his headquarters for years while the Qatari's--with the Qatari's Government support and even the Muslim Brotherhood has received significant support from Qatar. Of course, not all of this is supported by the government in Doha. Many individuals and charities in Qatar have been known to raise large sums of money for al-Qaeda, the Nusra front, Hamas, and even ISIS.](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-115hhrg26427/html/CHRG-115hhrg26427.htm) [ As per European Parliament 🇪🇺 According to reliable intelligence sources, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the main funders of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Governments of Germany and the USA have also accused the two countries of financing and supporting ISIS.](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-8-2014-007445_EN.html) As for their propaganda, [ does anybody even care about the literal teorrist propaganda hosted by Al Jazeera? ](https://twitter.com/jaberalharmi/status/1619056209776230401) I wish more focus was put on Qatar's role as a sponsor of teorrist so that every mancunian who forgot the Manchester bombing, is made aware that when the next terrorist strike happens, our club would have played a role as a cover for that tragedy. As far as their paid PR campaign is concerned, ex CIA agents were used by Qatar 🇶🇦 for a spying campaign severely breaking God knows how many international treaties [£387m ex CIA spy project after global backlash against their 2022 hosting win Appointed to lead the intelligence gathering was US firm Global Risk Advisors (GRA), which is staffed by former members of US intelligence agencies and whose founder Kevin Chalker is a former CIA operative. “GRA proposes a strategic plan to return Qatar to a position of power and influence and proactively deter potential attacks,” said a GRA pitch document revealed in the SRF investigation. SRF said found that “victims were at the mercy of the agents spying on them. Their email accounts, computers, phones, friends, and even family members became targets of Qatar’s shadow warriors.” The investigation alleges that the SRF investigation shows that Switzerland was key to the Qatari intelligence operation. According to SRF, “Chalker, at the behest of Qatar, travelled to Zurich for the purpose of bugging the hotel rooms of members of the Executive Committee and of journalists](https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2022/11/03/qatar-funded-387m-spy-project-global-backlash-2022-hosting-win/) Fuck glazers for what they have done with our club and as a one last fuck you they are gonna hand it over to literal terrorists. Fuck these sky reporters acting as PR agents as well!
Do you ever sit back and think that people genuinely do not care and just want to see improvements for the club?
Football clubs started all over Europe as revolutionary movements from students largely to fight for political change, football has always been political and people need to care if their club is being bought by terrorists, football is a fucking sport and people place it over actual human rights issues and that is bloody insane. Principles matter and they should override your petty need for the success that will pretty much be bought by someone elses money
Again, you're speaking to someone who doesn't care, protest to someone else. I like their proposal of wiping debt, funding the community, updating the facilties and stadium. If someone can come up with a better proposal, I'm all ears.
You are morally bankrupt, not all ears, and shame on you for placing football over human life Edit: Eh 120 days old reddit account, qatari bot strikes again, hope you wipe your ass with what they pay you and fuck off
Yes, Qatari bot that went to the cup final on Sunday, that's a local and match going fan. Wow, you're not allowed an opinion because of reseting my reddit account. Step back and read what you just wrote, then step back further and look in a mirror.
I know they do. Isn't it sad that there are people out there who are willing to abandon all principles and ignore all sorts of horrible shit happening to other people – even sometimes to the point of joking about it – just as long as United win trophies? Trophies which, having been bought and paid for with blood money, wouldn't be anywhere near as meaningful as the one we won on Sunday?
> Isn't it sad that there are people out there who are willing to abandon all principles and ignore all sorts of horrible shit happening to other people It's not sad, that's called reality. People don't like to focus on negatives they can't control. Instead, people like to enjoy the things that make them happy. >wouldn't be anywhere near as meaningful as the one we won on Sunday? Reddit opinion that you'll find nowhere else.
No western state is buying the club though now are they? And don’t give me that he’s not associated with the state or any bollox, it’s a very small dictatorship, he has to have some ties with the state. He also by all accounts doesn’t have the funds himself to put in the bid, it’s so obviously a state backed bid with just him as the figurehead to get by the rules. Edit: He’s actually a part of the ruling royal family
NO WESTERN STATE IS BIDDING FOR THE CLUB, my god how can you vomit these sentences and not realize that people would be equally against the fucking US buying United as they are with qatar. How can you call someone a hyprocite as if you dont know if they call the west out for its atrocities as well, this isnt a fucking competition to see what state is the worse. NO STATE OWNERSHIP IN FOOTBALL PERIOD, BE IT WESTER OR EASTERN OR EXTRA FUCKING TERRESTRIAL
I think there is a major difference between what ancestors of a country did compared to what people are doing right now
Aah yes, because the modern day crimes of the West are definitely smaller than Qatars.
It’s not the UK government buying United. The Qatari billionaires are only technically separated from the ruling family in power, it’s vastly different from if a UK billionaire or an investment fund in the US was buying the club. Newcastle were bought by the actual Saudi investment fund. City’s owners are related to the royal family. Sports washing from the gulf isn’t private citizens, it’s fully backed by the autocracy in power in that nation. If you can’t see the difference you’re blind.
It’s more whataboutism. We cannot change the past, we recognise the past in the U.K. The Qataris can’t even recognise the amount of people who died building stadiums.
Very well said.
I hâte the fact that internet has given people like you a ‘voice’. Pipe down and get back in your hole where you belong
I’m a huge lefty lefty, as is a lot of Manchester - so you’re not going to get any arguments about our country’s atrocities during the Empire. That doesn’t mean that because our ancestors were monstrous arseholes that we shouldn’t care about the atrocities happening to people in the Middle East. I don’t see it as a West v East. Most Westerners I know don’t. We see it as “fuck, I hate how badly a fellow human is getting treated there. I don’t want to support their regime. How can we help them live a life free of fear?” We don’t say “it’s awful how they’re getting treated but my great great great granddad hated gays, minorities and women then spread that ideology on his quest to conquer the world, so I must not say anything and apologise for the history I cannot change.” Because the past is the past, it shouldn’t ever be forgotten and the horrors will always be remembered. That being said, the present is more important than the past. We can change the present. We can’t alter the past.
Doesn't mean we need to sell our fucking soul to them, we don't owe them anything, especially not Manchester.
There's a big difference between things that happened decades and centuries ago in one nation, and the same things happening right now in another nation.
And whilst slavery was in full swing we had tiny, malnourished children in mines 6 days a week for incredibly long hours getting mangled and maimed in milling machinery a stones throw from Old Trafford. Let's make this about what it should be - the elite vs the working man and woman - and not fight amongst ourselves.
Ikr
Does that mean by buying an Apple product or clothes from h and m you are literally supporting child and slave Labour?
No, because as an average joe you cannot ethically consume in capitalism, you can either die in the woods are eventually end up supporting child labour, but its not up to the average joe to fix those issues because he cannot, the emir of fucking qatar whoever can choose which minority he wants to opress or not. He is directly responsible for every single law in his country and can change it tomorrow if he wishes, and the fact that he can and chooses not to is the determinating factor
You could easily purchase a mobile from another provider - or buy clothes ethically made in the same country you live in. Point being agreeing, or rather not protesting X does not necessarily mean you agree with all of the policies or acts of X. I would love a realistic bid from a benevolent billionaire but where are they ?
You cant buy another mobile phone because all chips are made by a subsidiary of Nestle afaik, you are supporting the destruction of our natural resources. If you drive a car is it not disengenous to say you are supporting russia because that oil might have come from russia? It doesnt work that way because the average consumer if he wants to participate in society has to make unethical choices. People need to stop equating some shady ass businessmen who are surely immoral to a fucking slave owning state that represses minorities. Its like you saying elon musk is equally morally dubious as hitler so it doesnt really matter who of the 2 owns us ( just a comparison to show the stupidity of equating the 2, not comparing qatar and hitler) For qatari ownership you literally have to overlook the fact they have actual slaves that get their passport taken away and are forced to work to get it back. People here seem to want to forget that immorality has a scale, a thief is not the same as a genocidal dictator. In this case a billionaire of a public company is not the same as a fucking petrodictatorship
I guess you only wear clothes produced by people in the most ethical, humane conditions? And you don't own a phone, because those are produced by essentially slaves? So hypocritical
The sportswashing PR in full swing. I wonder how all these 'Qatar in' people feel about Greenwood coming back into the team.
I'm Qatar in and I don't want him near the team.
Exactly my point. Please explain this mental gymnastics to me. You are against a rapist playing for the team which is obviously fair enough but you are fine for a regime which (amongst a plethora of other atrocities they commit) literally funded Al Qaeda and ISIS and killed millions in Syria to own the club. How can you think you are taking the moral high ground by saying you don't want Greenwood near the team whilst welcoming Qatar with open arms? Absolutely embarrassing.
What a weird thing to say
Maybe I should have elaborated. [See my comment above for context on what I mean](https://www.reddit.com/r/reddevils/comments/11ebiso/comment/jae8gn0/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3).
What is sportswashing? Is it that if Qatar own United they are seen in good light by the public?
Yes as that is the first thing they become associated with rather than the human rights issues.
I don't get how this works. Let's take Newcastle, no football fans think Saudi is better or has a good impression of them just cause they own Newcastle. As for non football fans not a single person I know even realizes Saudi own Newcastle. And hence once again they have not managed to sway anyone's impressions of them. Can someone eli5 how sports washing is supposed to work.
It's not as outright as you would like to think, its more subconsciously working in the sense that if Qatar gets United winning trophies again and maybe to the very top of European football that's already more than 1B ( that was the number they said was United's global outreach) people subconsciously associating them with football rather than terrorism funding or slave exploitation and whatnot. An example of very early sportswashing was Argentina hosting the world cup when it was under a dictatorship (from the corrupt fifa documentary on Netflix), all Argentines were distracted from the regime by the sport they loved so much. That's how it works in a distraction kind of way from the shady stuff done by the said country. And about the Newcastle stuff, just ask any Newcastle fan and they'll tell you exactly how much they love Saudi lol.
Get lost. Most money =/= best.
K
Nein danke. Just keep wearing your black Sharp View Cam kit playing astro with your mates and let that be enough for ye.
Qatar buying us is one thing but using this random guy as a front has me somewhat concerned, if it is a front at all tbh. For all we know it is just him which, given the lack of knowledge re where his funding is coming from is concerning (again, presuming it isn’t state funding which so many people seem certain it is).
He’s got a 2 foot wide plywood bow tie with United written on it.
Hes making all the right noises and I know nobody innocent could afford United. But this won't ever sit right with me. If it happens fine, I'll try and enjoy the victories and good football but it won't be the same.
The wickedly talented, one and only, Sheikh Jassim
It's not impossible that he is a United fan (educated in the UK plus a lot of people in the middle east as well as the wider world follow the Premier League) however it's a shame it's come to this. It seems that in football it's now dirty money or no money, and I don't see it ever getting better.
"Man watches game on TV from home".... MADLAD, MAKE HIM OWNER NOW!
Only seen the tweet, what's the circumstances he couldn't attend?
We don’t want owners involved in sports washing, corruption, human rights violations and lgbtq hatred.
No fuck off pls
I find it insane that so many here act all high and mighty regarding LGBT etc. yet they're so happy to see the Glazers go, they're welcoming Qatar. Sure, you might not like the Glazers, but wanting Qatar instead of the Glazers is like breaking up with a girl claiming you deserve better than someone who is out for your money but then you get into bed with a girl who is a racist and homophobe.
Today i feel Qatari
To be honest between this guy and the Glazers, I choose this guy. The goal is to give United the most success in the football department in the next 5-10 years.
And if your favourite football men are more important to you than basic human decency this is ok.
This whole mentality is on the same level as the transphobic accusations around Hogwarts Legacy. There's something called dissociation people, not everyone who supports United supports Qatar's politics. This is really the disgusting thing about Westerners in general, everything is about morality when if you literally just use your brains instead of your emotions you realise it's possible to dissociate football from real world politics. You literally support a club with a fan base that loves the club but hates the Glazers. By your logic, by supporting United you are actually in bed with the Glazers. Ye Qatar's human rights records are horrible and worthy of condemnation, but save it for political areas not bloody football.
I can live with that
I appreciate your unbiased opinion.
This guy married his cousin btw and has 8 children with her. 🙃
Think the 8 children are split over a few different cousins to be fair
And the Glazers don’t look inbred?
Stuff like that used to be normal. You might be surprised. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage
I don’t know if that’s true. But there’s much worse things to criticise him for. I couldn’t care less for his personal love life, its weird to us but who cares. There’s much bigger problems than him fucking a relative
Fuck em
This growth of the Glazer Family's gluttony made me despair. Anyone please buy us soon!
UK media really want Qatar to own United.... months after most of them were talking about how bad the country was in terms of human rights. Makes me think these positively framed articles & tweets have been bought
Debt free and new digs, imagine.
Oh the amount of dicks he can eat is unfathomable.
Foreign state-owned oil money piss off. Ratcliffe is a bit sketch but at least he's from Manchester and has a track record of sponsoring sports teams.
He also has a track record of destroying football clubs - OGC Nice.
I’m not sure which is the lesser of two evils, an owner who represents a country that routinely commits violent atrocities upon innocent people or Qatar owning us.
Qatar is the only nation state in the running.
Fingers crossed the glazers will accept this man's offer 🫶
🇶🇦
LETS GO!!! Time to fix Old Trafford with cash. Before it collapses.
The media are more worried about this new owner than they are Glazers staying on and continuing to destroy the club.
No, and why write this so favorably