A number of Liverpool fans have indicated that they would not like the club to be bought out in a manner similar to the current projected takeover at Newcastle United.
As reported by The Guardian, a £300m takeover from the Saudi Arabian-funded Public Investment Fund (PIF) group is nearing completion at St James’ Park, as documentation citing PIF’s chief operating officer Bander bin Mogren as a new director of the club was lodged with the Companies House.
A report in the Daily Mail claimed that Newcastle’s prospective new owners have a chequered human rights record, with PIF chairman Crown Prince bin Salman “widely recognised as the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia”. The Guardian reported that Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered by Saudi agents inside their Turkish embassy, has petitioned for the Premier League to block the takeover from going through.
Genuinely want to hear the reaction of Liverpool fans. If we were about to be bought out by what is effectively Saudi Arabia, as Newcastle are, how would you feel?
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) April 29, 2020
Empire of the Kop on Twitter (@empireofthekop) subsequently asked followers how they would feel about a group like PIF taking over at Liverpool, with many Reds fans responding to say that they would not be comfortable with such a scenario.
Here is a selection of responses from some Kopites on the matter:
No thanks. How they treat people doesn’t sit well with me.
— LFC6times (@Liverbird6times) April 29, 2020
I’m already disillusioned with the way football is heading (this takeover being another example). If it happened to Liverpool, I think I’d jack it in altogether.
— Tim Bolton (@timbolton1) April 29, 2020
That would be the end for me. The absolute end. It would be as far removed from the ethos of the club as it’s possible to get. I’m not talking about FSG, I’m talking about the cultural foundations of the city and its fans. Those that make LFC the club that it is.
— David Webber (@DrDaveWebber) April 29, 2020
I would not want my club to be used to launder the reputation of a morally dubious regime.
Some things are more important than money.
— SP (@SouthernPansy) April 29, 2020
Pretty sick to be honest.Would it stop me being a fan? No,but I wouldn’t be happy buying a jersey or something. Unfair to have a go at NUFC fans tho, the ownership rules are the problem that needs fixing
— Eamonn Heslin (@VoodooHez) April 29, 2020
Awful. Absolutely awful. Worst possibly thing that could happen to our club
— Sam Ma’ayan (@SamMaayan) April 29, 2020
Considering Saudi Arabia’s record on human rights abuses, awful. They’re opposite to the soul and the philosophy of the club.
— Ian McKeaveney (@Ian_McKeaveney) April 29, 2020
Sickened. It goes against everything we hold dear as supporters and our socialist beliefs
— El Breth (@ElBrethers) April 29, 2020
Liverpool fans, would you be opposed to a group like PIF buying out the Anfield club if such a scenario became a distinct possibility? Have your say by commenting below.