UEFA will reportedly not block a Qatari bid for Manchester United as a consortium based in the nation prepares an offer for the Premier League side.
The Qatari bid is expected from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, The Emir of Qatar, who is interested in a deal to purchase United from the Glazer family after the unpopular American ownership announced their intention to sell the club in November.
Manchester United are valued in the region of £5bn ahead of Friday’s 10pm deadline for bids, set by the New York merchant bank tasked with handling the sale. Interest from Qatar had emerged with complications due to the nation’s involvement in Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA’s rules regarding multi-club ownership.
UEFA legislations’s state that ‘no individual or legal entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition’. Given that United and PSG could meet in Europe, it seemed set to provide a stumbling block to Qatari investment at Old Trafford.
However, the Daily Mail are reporting that UEFA will not block a deal and are satisfied that the United bid will come from a separate entity to Qatar Sports Investment, who have owned PSG since 2011.
Any deal would need to be approved by the Premier League and there is expected to be protests against Qatari investors. The nation’s human rights record and treatment of workers, women and LGBTQ people are likely to lead to opposition.
The Qataris will face competition in their pursuit of the Red Devils with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a boyhood supporter regarded as Britain’s richest man, having gone public with his intent to make a bid for United.
