An article in the New York Time describes the hostile situation between the fans of Manchester United and Malcolm Glazer after his take over of the club.
I quote:
How do English soccer fans hate Malcolm Glazer, the billionaire businessman who this week took control of Manchester United, one of the world’s most famous soccer teams? Let us count the ways.
There are Mr. Glazer’s personal qualities, which, according to various English newspapers, extend to rapaciousness, ruthlessness, meanness, megalomania, unflattering facial hair and a propensity, The Daily Mail says, for “wearing his trouser waistband ludicrously high.”
There is the way he is said to be saddling Manchester United with debt, using the team’s assets to help secure some £265 million ($490 million) in loans as part of the £790 million ($1.45 billion) takeover price.
As far as anyone can tell, Mr. Glazer, 76, has never been to a Manchester United game, or possibly even to any soccer game. Which might not be so surprising, according to his sister Maria. “He has never liked sports,” she told The Daily Mail.
Football may well be big business in Europe, South America and Azia. But in contrast to the “American way’, clubs have always been lead by people who have a heart for the sport and don’t see it as a tax deduction. Look at the Russian biljonair chairman of Chelsea, who also sponsors a football club in Moscow. I honestly doubt whether the son of Mr. Glazer really has such a ‘love’ for soccer (as the call the sport in the US). I think it has more to do with the will of winning, winning the big buck of the Manchester United merchandise that is.
Maybe Malcolm will learn to love the game, I doubt it. But he better do so because otherwise the fans are going to kick him out or walk away.