Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham says he believes no-one “feels completely comfortable” about a potential takeover of Manchester United by Qatari royal Sheikh Jassim.
Burnham, though, said issues over Qatar’s human rights record are “for the UK government”.
United have been up for sale since November 2022, with Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS the two main bidders. But the potential sale from the Glazers to one of those parties is dragging on, with the American family holding out for a high asking price.
Qatar’s human rights record — with issues including workers’ rights, women’s rights and the illegality of homosexuality — came under scrutiny first because of the 2022 World Cup, but now also due to Jassim’s bid to buy United.
“These are questions that everyone’s having to embrace in this Premier League era,” Burnham told Global’s The News Agents podcast when asked about the prospect of Qatari ownership of United.
“I don’t think anyone feels completely comfortable about it and I’m going to be really clear about that.
“But the Premier League has kind of moved into a place where, is all the money clean in any Premier League club? There’s associations with regimes around the world. That’s how it is now,…
