Will Sheikh Mohammed be a great ruler of Liverpool FC?
Posted by Ellee on Dec 8, 2006 in updates | 9 comments
Reports that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum wants to buy Liverpool FC came as no big surprise to me. I follow the news about his Godolphin horse racing empire in Newmarket and am a keen follower of this sport.
I can quite understand why the Crown Prince of Dubai wants to challenge Roman Abramovich, a little bird told me during a recent visit to Newmarket’s horse sales that the Russian billionaire had two buyers there on the lookout for top racehorses for Abramovich. I cannot imagine the Sheikh was too pleased about that.
While a Liverpool fan believes there are advantages to having a new royal boss, it seems that UEFA is concerned that the rise of powerful, money-rich owners could “destroy the game”.
Their spokesman said:
“The immediate threat in the short term is a huge increase in the gap between the haves and the havenots, and in the long-term, it may lead to inflation in wages and transfer fees and a concentration of power that could destroy the game.”
An FA spokesman described it as an “emotive issue”, that they were bound by laws on what they could do.
“There are laws which govern businesses and takeovers and we have a fit and proper persons test.But it would be inappropriate to discriminate on the grounds of nationality.”
Surely only billionaires can afford to spend £450 million on buying a football club, as well as the extra millions needed to invest in players. When was the last time that happened in the UK? This means we need to accept the globalization of ownership.
The Sheikh’ friends speak of a man who is fiercely competitive and highly ambitious. Reports suggest he is the world’s fifth richest man, but he does not enjoy finishing fifth.
The Sheikh is also a spiritual man, this quote from his website could be pinned up in the players’ changing room to help inspire them:
“The word ‘impossible’ is not in leaders’ dictionaries. No matter how big the challenges, strong faith, determination and resolve will overcome them.”
Besides the investment, I think the Sheikh would make an excellent ruler of Liverpool FC, he would bring a new dimension to the sport and be driven by his constant desire to be No 1 in the world.
Do you agree with UEFA that too many money rich owners could destroy the game? Can Liverpool FC afford to miss out on this golden opportunity?
Pic courtesy of The First Post.
Update: Thanks to Guardian Unlimited for giving this post a plug listed under “best of the web”.
money.. will merely make football even more competitive.. while it may become a war amidst billionaires.. so what? more money = better players = more competition = a better game.
I believe the sheik has more of a design on the Liverpool brand than on actualy running the club, No doubt profits from the brand will be helped if the team is winning.
The idea of overseas investors does not realy concern me personaly. However the inevitable gap between the clubs without big money backers will cause problems in the long term.
This could be adressed by the FA and Sky adopting a more balanced sharing of the revenues distibuted to the smaller clubs and lower divisions.
Ah! Northampton Town. I nearly went to the 3-1 defeat by them in the FA Cup in 1968. A bit too young to travel though.
It’s bad for the game. You end up with super clubs that can just buy all the best players.
Whilst that’s no guarantee of success, it definitely helps.
I’m sure that Chelsea fans are happy with Roman Abramovich putting his money in, but as a more passive* viewer, having Chelsea and Manchester United fighting it out again, it’s a bit tedious.
*I’m an occasional observer of the fortunes of the Cobblers.
He’ll have to know all the words of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before the supporters accept him.
He sounds like an absolutely smashing bloke.
http://tinyurl.com/y8y7v8
Very spiritual indeed.
It could be interesting for Liverpool’s youth policy.
I fear it’s falafel at half time for us.
I am concerned about the impact it will have on the game generally. Over the years football has stopped being the working class game that it used to be.
Prices are over inflated to subsidise the high wages footballers now get. I think that started happening when we starting going crazy for foreign footballers. Also, the celebrity status of footballers has reached ridiculous heights.
It’s no surprise that Rabromovich and the Sheik are pumping money into the game. It feels like football is just a must have accessory.
I hope we get to keep mackies!
WL, If I had millions to spare, I would be a philanthropist, give my money to good causes rather than buy a football club. But for thousands of people, football is their life, and it will clearly have to be a good investment too.
Ellee, you know what I think, or don’t think, about sport – couldn’t care less. But if this man is so rich surely there are worthier causes he could invest in?