Manchester United takeover fallout: Furious Qatari group refute accusations over bid evidence

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The failed bidders of the Manchester United takeover have blasted the suggestion that they did not prove their financial sources after documents were disclosed yesterday

General view of Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium from the outside in October 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The backers of Qatar-based bid for Manchester United have slammed the recent claims that they did not provide evidence of their financial capability.

According to Mail Sport, the group involved in the unsuccessful takeover, led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, are furious with the suggestion that they did not meet the valuation set by the Glazers, the club's owners, and lacked evidence regarding the funding.

The group are reportedly now considering seeking a corrective statement from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In documents submitted to shareholders, United documents showed that the Qatari bid fell short of the approximately £4.5 billion asking price. It also claimed no proof of funding was provided despite repeated requests throughout the course of the process.

Sheikh Jassim preparing to buy West Ham if Manchester United takeover falls through

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani led a bid to buy Manchester United (Image credit: Sheikh Jassim)

The Qatari group asserts that they offered approximately £4.5 billion, which was slightly below Sir Jim Ratcliffe's successful bid, but with the commitment to pay off all existing debt at Old Trafford. The failed bidders also claim that they consistently provided evidence of funding throughout the negotiation process last year.

Indeed, they now are considering whether to make a demand to the SEC for a corrective statement. Manchester United did not comment.

The filing indicated that 'Bidder A' - believed to be the Qatari group - repeatedly failed to submit 'customary financing commitment letters.' But the group have now refuted the suggestion.

British INEOS Group chairman Jim Ratcliffe looks on ahead of the UEFA Europa Conference League second-leg quarter final football match between Nice (OGCN) and FC Basel at the Allianz Riviera in Nice, on April 20, 2023.

INEOS billionaire Jim Ratcliffe was successful in investing into Manchester United (Image credit: Getty Images)

The stakeholders are disappointed that the documents mention the £237 million planned investment from  Ratcliffe's group without a mention of Jassim's commitment to immediately inject around £1 billion into the club's infrastructure.

The Qatari group withdrew from the process in October, with Ratcliffe emerging victorious by claiming a 25 per cent in the club. INEOS CEO Ratcliffe completed a £1.3 billion deal for a 29% stake in the club on December 24, with an announcement by the club emerging the same day.

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Jacque Talbot
Jacque Talbot

Jacque Talbot is a freelance football journalist who predominantly specialises in transfer stories and exclusives. He began his career in 2016 covering the world-renowned Sandbach United, of North West Counties fame, before earning a spot on the sports desks of national papers, where he bounced between several outlets such as Sportbible, the Express, Mirror, and Daily Star. An NCTJ graduate of the News Associates who swapped investigative journalism in the Costa del Sol for football reporting in Northern England, he first wrote for FourFourTwo in December 2023.