English giants Manchester United continues to slowly edge closer to finally shedding the ownership yolk of the Glazer family as multiple interestedStrongly disagree. Nation state ownership is very bad for football with significant damaging consequences that transcend sport. The Glazers and Mike Ashley should never have been allowed anywhere near football clubs either. Fans must be fussier and more engaged than ever. https://t.co/DUOr98qqWa
— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) February 8, 2023
Both Colin Millar (The Mirror) and Matt Ford (DW Sports) have not been shy in their views surrounding the prospective new owners, with a feeling that fan voice and representation must be at the forefront of any new regime, while not allowing a football club the size of United to be used as a political pawn.
Ford stated earlier today “Manchester United Football Club must never be allowed to become a puppet for a nation-state, to be used and abused for ulterior geopolitical motives. The club represents the people of Manchester, whose values stand entirely opposed to those of Qatar.”
Millar is of a similar opinion, offering the stance that “Nation-state ownership is very bad for football with significant damaging consequences that transcend sport. The Glazers and Mike Ashley should never have been allowed anywhere near football clubs either. Fans must be fussier and more engaged than ever.”
Though there has been a clear pathway to immediate success for Premier League clubs that have welcomed ownership from the Middle East, with Manchester City questionably building a domestic empire of note and Newcastle United quickly rising from the ashes under PIF, there are many fans that still question the ethics behind direct ownership from regimes that regularly come under the microscope surrounding topics such as human rights, equality, and others.
