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Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s battle to become the new owner of Man Utd is “the dirty derby”, according to the co-executive director of Greenpeace UK.
Man Utd has been on sale since November last year. Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe (CEO of Ineos) have since established themselves as the first to buy the club from the Glazer family.
Sheikh Jassim’s representatives met with the United hierarchy on Thursday, while Ratcliffe’s meeting took place on Friday.
The Qatari businessman “will make a second offer for Manchester United within 10 days”, according to Sky Sports.
Added journalist Kaveh Solhekol: “I am very confident they will make that second offer and a source in the US told me ‘there should be no doubt that Sheikh Jassim wants to be the owner and caretaker of Manchester United.
“In recent weeks, I have said that I don’t think Sheikh Jassim is the type of person who will overpay for the club. This is what I was told.
“But today I have a feeling he will do what it takes to become the new owner of the club. He won’t throw any money at it, but I have a feeling he really, really wants United.
“We don’t know for sure that Sheikh Jassim’s first offer was £4.5bn – we know the Glazers are looking for around £6bn and I’d be surprised if Sheikh Jassim was willing to go that high.” .
Ben Jacobs meanwhile reports that Ratcliffe is expected to make his second offer next week after his ‘productive meeting’ with Man Utd on Friday.
However, these offers are not supported by all. Qatar’s human rights record has raised concerns, while Ratcliffe’s Ineos has been questioned on environmental issues.
Greenpeace now says the “bidding process has turned into a dirty derby”.
“It is worrying that the Man Utd bidding process has devolved into a dirty derby between entities linked to fossil fuels,” Areeba Hamid, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, told The Mirror.
“Chased out of museums and art galleries, oil and gas is now invading the sports world desperate for popular brands behind which to hide its climate-destroying business. The Qatari Islamic Bank gets part of its revenues from oil and gas.
“INEOS is a major producer of plastics, toxic pesticides and fossil fuels, as well as one of the UK’s leading fracking companies. Having already daubed its mark on cycling, sailing, football, running and rugby, INEOS is the undisputed champion of sports washing. However this derby goes, the climate won’t win.”
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