Free article section

You are reading a Free article. Apply for a subscription to access all the valuable information on the website Sports Law & Taxation

Football: Sale of Manchester United FC

By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw

By the deadline of 22 00 GMT on 17 February 2023, there were two rival bids submitted for the purchase of Manchester United FC: one from Sir Jim Ratcliffe of INEOS UK (see earlier Post on the website for details); and the other from Sheik Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani the chairman of the Qatar Bank, QIB.

The Glazer family, who own the famous Club, are looking to sell for around £5 billion. If they do not achieve this sum, there is not likely to be any sale.

The Sheik has been a fan of the club since 1992 when he was ten years old, and his bid is debt free, which will bring a sigh of relief to the supporters of the Club, and he has stated that he will invest in the men’s and women’s teams; the redevelopment of the stadium; the training ground; and the area around Old Trafford. His aim is to restore the Club to its former glory with emphasis on youth and infrastructure.

Whilst no sums for the purchase of the Club have been disclosed, the Sheik’s bid has been described as a “substantial” one.

In view of Qatar’s human rights record and, in particular, the country’s attitude to homosexuality, the Sheik’s bid is expected to give rise to some opposition from the fans, especially amongst the ‘Rainbow Devils’, the LGBT+ supporters of the Club.

It will be very interesting to see how this matter develops!

Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



Interesting article?

Take your own subscription to get easy online access to all valuable articles of Sports Law & Taxation
The Journal

Sports Law & Taxation features: articles; comparative surveys; commentaries on topical sports legal and tax issues and documentation.

The unique feature of Sports Law & Taxation is that this Journal combines  up-to-date valuable and must-have information on the legal and tax aspects of sport and their interrelationships.

Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports feature: articles; comparative surveys; commentaries on topical sports legal and tax issues and documentation.

The unique feature of Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports is that this Journal combines for the first time up to-date valuable and must-have information on the legal and tax aspects of sport and their interrelationships.

The Editors

The editors of  the Journal Sports Law & Taxation are Professor Ian Blackshaw and Dr Rijkele Betten, with specialist contributions from the world's leading practitioners and academics in the sports law and taxation fields.

The Editors

Managing editor
Dr. Rijkele Betten

Consulting editor
Prof. Dr. Ian S. Blackshaw

Editorial board

Prof. Guglielmo Maisto
Maisto e Associati, Milano

Mr. Kevin Offer
Hardwick & Morris LLP, London

 

In partnership with

Screenshot 1

 

Address

Nolot BV
St. Jorisstraat 11
5211 HA  's-Hertogenosch
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.