Manchester United followers will show a banner decrying “Qatari sportswashing” forward of their Premier League sport with Southampton on Sunday.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the chairman of one among Qatar’s largest banks, is at present bidding to purchase Manchester United.
A neighborhood Amnesty International group will maintain up the message, which reads: “No Qatari sportswashing at United!”
Bidders, together with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos, have moved to the following stage of the method that would result in a takeover of the membership, giving them a possibility to conduct due diligence. It is predicted it might be a gradual course of as bidders pore over the main points of the membership’s industrial contracts.
Sheikh Jassim and Ineos each confirmed their presents to buy United from the Glazer household final month and are the one bidders to have gone public.
Sources near rich banker Sheikh Jassim insist he’s bidding alone as a personal particular person, with none direct or oblique help from the Qatari state or the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority. But the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust has expressed considerations round multi-club possession – Qatar Sports Investments controls Paris St Germain – and round human rights.
Kathryn Fletcher, who has organised the protest, stated: “I’m part of a group of United fans who are deeply concerned about a Qatari takeover of our club.
“Manchester United’s charter says suppliers must not use forced labour and must practice ‘universal respect for human rights and freedoms for all, without discrimination of age, disability, gender or sexual orientation’ – how is this compatible with Qatari ownership?
“The Premier League should step in to ensure integrity in the governance of the league’s football clubs – it shouldn’t be left to fans to oppose takeovers by owners who may be linked to serious human rights abuses.”
