Liverpool and its owners FSG are no exception to the norm that it is nearly difficult to operate in football without some connection to the state of Qatar.
Since winning the World Cup in one of the most closely watched events in the sport’s history in 2010, the tiny but resource-rich Gulf nation has gone all-in on football.
Liverpool, which was the target of a purchase offer from Sheikh Mansour before his takeover of Manchester City in 2008, is well aware of the Middle East’s effect on football money, both in the Premier League and elsewhere. Reported by Football Fiance.
Currently, Manchester City and Newcastle United are the only English clubs directly owned by a Gulf state, however every Premier League club has some type of corporate connection to the region.
Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, for example, are partially controlled by RedBird Capital, a private equity business in the United States with close ties to Abu Dhabi via a relationship with IMI, a UAE-financed entity.
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The influence of beIN, and by extension the state of Qatar, over the Premier League was significant enough to nearly derail Newcastle’s takeover due to a licensing disagreement between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Sponsorship is another financial connection between the two. Liverpool’s city rivals Everton, who they defeated 1-0 last night, have discussed calling their stadium after Qatar Airways, for example.
And until FSG decided not to sell Liverpool entirely in 2022, instead selling a small minority stake to Dynasty Equity a year later, Qatar and Saudi sovereign wealth were apparently interested again.
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