Manchester United are in discussion with Qatari investors over a potential takeover, but they aren’t connected to PSG’s owners.
United fans are gearing up for life after the Glazer family, who have owned the club for nearly 20 years and have been extremely unpopular throughout their time at the club.
Even when the team were being successfully led by Sir Alex Ferguson, fans didn’t like how the owners had borrowed heavily to buy the club only to take ever more money out of the club to pay themselves.
With the Americans finally open to selling, after increased criticism in recent years, there is now light at the end of the tunnel for fans.
However, the Times report that talks have already taken place and QSI haven’t actually been involved in the discussions, which could get around UEFA’s rules.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is unlikely to be part of any move to buy United. Image: AlamyHowever, the paper does point out that “QSI is a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority,” and run by the sovereign state’s funds.
That fund is essentially controlled by Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and it would seem difficult for another fund to argue it wasn’t also being controlled by the Emir.
“There are definitely some regulatory challenges,” one insider said, which certainly suggests they have to overcome the rules set out by UEFA.
That’s not necessarily an impossibility though, with both RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg having convinced Europe’s footballing body that they are disconnected enough to both be in the Champions League.
Newcastle United were also able to make the Premier League believe that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund is disconnected enough from the country’s governance.
Convincing UEFA that they aren’t connected to QSI will be one thing but getting all the fans on board with owners connected to their country’s human rights issues will be another problem.
