Manchester United LGBTQ+ Fan Club Responds to Qatar Takeover Bid: "We Will Watch Closely"

In Qatar, homosexuality can lead to the death penalty
LGBTQ+ group "Expresses deep concern"

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seung-woo] The English Premier League (EPL) prestigious club Manchester United (hereafter Man U) takeover battle is heating up the football world day by day. Amid this, Man U's LGBTQ+ fan club has expressed concerns about the club's bidding process.

According to a report by the UK BBC on the 18th (local time), Man U's LGBTQ+ fan club Rainbow Devils stated in a tweet, "We express deep concern about some of the ongoing bids."

Man U was acquired in 2005 by the famous American sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer family. However, in November last year, the club's board announced it was considering a sale, making it one of the most sought-after assets in football. The Glazer family values Man U's acquisition price at about ?6 billion (approximately 9.0466 trillion KRW). There were also reports that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, showed interest.

Following this, Qatari capital, backed by 'oil money,' entered the Man U takeover battle. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), submitted a proposal through his foundation on the 18th to acquire 100% of Man U.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Rainbow Devils did not specify who or which bidder their concerns were directed at in their statement. However, local media speculate that it targets the Qatari capital.

Qatar is a country that still adheres to Islamic Sharia law. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and can be punishable by death. The level of gender equality is also among the lowest in the world. During the 2022 Qatar World Cup, issues of LGBTQ+ and women's rights suppression arose, leading to calls for a World Cup boycott.

In their statement, Rainbow Devils added, "We believe that all bidders seeking to acquire Man U must strive to create football for everyone, including LGBTQ+ supporters, players, and staff." They emphasized, "We are closely monitoring the situation and hope that this will be carefully considered in the handling of matters."

Rainbow Devils is a group of Man U fans composed of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender individuals, and others. It was launched in February 2019 under the banner of "support and encouragement for all LGBTQ+ people on and off the pitch."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.