Qatar Qatastrophy (and other dodgy bedfellows)

[spurious]

So, there's this: https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...premier-league-club-portfolio-minority-stakes
I am
-actively hoping it doesn't happen (this accomplishes fuck-all, but makes me feel all tingly and righteous)
-telling everyone it shouldn't happen (see above)
-questioning myself and looking for some kind of conscience-assuaging dodge like saying I won't buy shit but keep supporting the club, maybe secretly (still won't accomplish anything, but might cost me some comfort)

What say you all? I reckon there are those among us who would welcome this, and many for whom this could be worse than our wingback options. Discuss.

 

[USspur]

From a human point of view: Fuck'em, tell them to go buy some other club who is willing to sell their souls to the devil. I don't want any part of their sport-washing.

From a sporting perspective: will they give us money to spend on players? Loosen the purse strings? Love that, if true.

Tough spot we are in

 

[Dorset]

From a human point of view: Fuck'em, tell them to go buy some other club who is willing to sell their souls to the devil. I don't want any part of their sport-washing.

From a sporting perspective: will they give us money to spend on players? Loosen the purse strings? Love that, if true.

Tough spot we are in

Do fucking what? Fuck buying players and 'loving that,? If this happens then that's me finished, my financial contribution is small, subs to DAZN which is really just to watch our games, that ends and so sadly would my involvement here, the only thing I would have to say is fuck those cunts and anyone who supports them - that would be dull so I would toddle off.

 

[Yid]

How can anyone consciously support the sports washing of a regime that openly oppresses peoples human rights.

How will gay supporters feel after what they've just witnessed in Qutar?

Can you walk away from something you love...? People in abusive relationships find the strength... Maybe that's the real question that has to be asked...?

These cunts are about the only ones who can afford to buy the club including its debts... and technically they're not buying it, they're becoming an minority stakeholder.

This on the face of it is a no brainer... they can go fuck themselves in the desert... but there are a few buts...

 

[Havocc]

I thought it was interesting the supporters club asked 4 questions, and the club confirmed they will answer these questions at the end of the transfer window due to commercial reasons.

Perhaps one of these reason is this partial sale to the Qatari investment fund. Although not full ownership, I still feel uncomfortable with the whole thing.

We all have our love/hate affair with Levy and ENIC. There failures are well known, especially not backing managers when the time was right. But I like the fact that as a club have competed on the pitch with bigger teams with More financial clout, and the delivery of our new home which is phenomenal place to watch matches.

I would hope, the FA step in and prevent these kind of investments, but it is too late for that now, especially with City and Newcastle already owned by these people. If it is not us, it could be West Ham…….

If it happened, not sure I would walk away from watching/supporting the club. I still subscribe to Disney+, use technology and wear clothes provided by companies with questionable ethics. Hell, I work in big pharma which has a torrid history. Walking away from the club would feel a bit like virtue signalling (no accusation anyone here is quilty of that) without actually doing more about it.

Why should outside influences and decisions prevent me from doing what I love to do. Hell, if we listened to everything bad in the world we would not fly, drive cars, eat meat, eat veg, talk to the opposite sex etc.

Perhaps I am too much ‘ignorance is bliss’ and if it doesn’t impact me directly, then why the fuck should I care. Perhaps I do care, but I am to selfish to do anything about it. Perhaps I need to find out more about it…..

Anyway, I think I will truly know when it actually happens, then I can have a good think about it.

 

[Don Diaz]

I think it's simple. ENIC are greedy and have few morals when it comes to business. If Levy thinks he can get a £1bn for 20% and it will make him look good, pay some debt and buy a couples I would imagine he might do it. The fan base would likely be split and that will buy a lot of them off.

Personally I'm out, way out, a long long way out. I want Levy out too, this doesn't achieve that, neither does it achieve anything that the club and long time supporters have been connected with, we'd just be another Chelsea or Man City light, disrespect our Jewish connections, and our soul, maybe that disappeared a long time ago? Worst of all and I realise that this is naive, I hate the thought that in modern day football wealthy individuals, corporations and sovereign wealth funds can just go and buy a new toy to play with and compete with other like minded owners, especially one with such an appalling record on human rights.

If this has to happen at Spurs and one day sooner rather than later it will, I'd prefer a non corrupt US sports related investment, assuming one exists, that also removes Levy from any footballing related aspect at the club.

 

[Dorset]

Qatar is so fucking bad that even Saudi fucking Arabia has severed diplomatic relations with them for funding terrorism. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the good old US of A have all accused the Qataris of funding nutcase terrorist organisations, while Brexitanian UK has deepened their ties, set up joint UK/Qatar air force squadrons and sold them billions of pounds worth of weapons.

Ooooh, those nice Qataris did such a lovely world cup and it looked so pretty on the telly, David Beckham says it's a wonderful place.

 

[BrooklynYid]

I am gonna have to go with a big fat no. Would rather the dark lord Levy than all this oil money. I do, however, understand that the club does need to do something. They could always reach into their own pockets, but we know that will never happen.

 

[J.spurs]

I don't think it will happen. If it does--not trying to be self-righteous, it's just that there is no way my heart would be in it anymore.

Are there countless other awful people involved in football ownership? Yes.

Do I regularly encounter, and do business with, nasty corporations and individual people who believe evil or just plain stupid shit? Yes.

Does my own country need to take a long, hard look at its record on human rights, past and present? Fuck yes.

But there are lines, and no way I could see myself feeling the same way about the club if this happened. I wouldn't ever judge lifelong supporters who feel differently. But I'm already more than a little queasy about the state of the global game and questioning my tiny role in helping make it that way.

 

[NiceOneCyril]

Like @Havocc I'm just not sure how hypocritical I am prepared to be. I talk a good progressive political game, but could I just stop watching?

 

[jd2023]

I know for one if new owners came in and the boys in lily-white are winning more often I'd find it too hard to stay away.

Also, I'm in no part saying it's apples and apples. But it's not like Joe Lewis' goings on in Argentina or being a tax evader in the Cayman Islands sits easily with most of us? And that hasn't turned us away, all while he/ENIC keep seeing their 100m investment in our football club rise in value, now worth up closer to 3b.

 

[NiceOneCyril]

From the BBC homepage:

Manchester United: Sheikh Jism confirms Qatari bid to buy Premier League club[...] The Glazer family [...] are considering selling the Old Trafford club as they "explore strategic alternatives".

Don't even THINK about it, Daniel

 

[Havocc]

3 team league for the foreseeable future. City, United and Newcastle…..

No one else will be able to compete financially

 

[Dave]

Football's fucked. Certain clubs are becoming more of a tourist attraction rather than a Football club. The ordinary fan finds it harder to get to see a game nowadays.
Something has to change, but it won't will it ? The PL is turning into a Money league, the football is secondary to these corrupt c*nts.
Back in the 70's and 80's you had a chance as a young fella breaking through and getting an opportunity, now it's rare because if in doubt a manager buys established talent because its a surer bet. The manager's are less likely to take the risk because they need success and fast because that's the pressure of the PL.
The whole thing saddens me.

Anyway, I love my club and always will but as a sport, I don't like where we're heading. Now, I'm going to have a coffee...

Welcome @jd2023 , I don't usually whinge (Apart from subjects like Levy and now Conte) but I've woke up in bad form today for some reason and fancied a rant.

 

[The Cryptkeeper]

Football's fucked. Certain clubs are becoming more of a tourist attraction rather than a Football club. The ordinary fan finds it harder to get to see a game nowadays.
Something has to change, but it won't will it ? The PL is turning into a Money league, the football is secondary to these corrupt c*nts.
Back in the 70's and 80's you had a chance as a young fella breaking through and getting an opportunity, now it's rare because if in doubt a manager buys established talent because its a surer bet. The manager's are less likely to take the risk because they need success and fast because that's the pressure of the PL.
The whole thing saddens me.

Anyway, I love my club and always will but as a sport, I don't like where we're heading. Now, I'm going to have a coffee...

Welcome @jd2023 , I don't usually whinge (Apart from subjects like Levy and now Conte) but I've woke up in bad form today for some reason and fancied a rant.

Don’t worry about @jd2023 mate. He’s a prick of a thing and will fit in rather well around here.

 

[spurious]

I know for one if new owners came in and the boys in lily-white are winning more often I'd find it too hard to stay away.

Also, I'm in no part saying it's apples and apples. But it's not like Joe Lewis' goings on in Argentina or being a tax evader in the Cayman Islands sits easily with most of us? And that hasn't turned us away, all while he/ENIC keep seeing their 100m investment in our football club rise in value, now worth up closer to 3b.

This is very close to what I feel. I like to sneer at City and Newcastle, but there aren't (m)any billionaires with clean hands out there. It's kind of nice that ours profess to be fans as well, but they're no angels.

As to what I would do if it got glaringly worse - Qatar, say, or some other blatant sportswashing enterprise - I already work for a large corporation that's part of an economic system I regularly rant about. I buy shit wrapped in plastic and sometimes drive when I should walk. I try to do better on all of the above, but I'm not gonna start a revolution on my own. I suppose we'll have to each find our way of salving ye olde conscience. I'm hoping I can figure that out whilst watching some decent ball on a Saturday.