Qatar media points replace on Manchester United takeover bid
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Qatar media outlet has backtracked on claims Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has gained the race to purchase Manchester United.
Reports emerged on Monday night that Sheikh Jassim’s closing supply, submitted final week for 100 per cent of the membership, had crushed a rival supply from Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Qatari newspaper Al-Watan erroneously claimed an official announcement was imminent, prompting the membership’s inventory worth to soar.
However, on Wednesday, Al-Watan editorial director Fahed al Emadi moved to make clear the reporting.
He tweeted: “Contrary to certain media and social media reports overnight, Al Watan is not owned by Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, and Al Watan’s media report yesterday speculating about possible movement in the Manchester United takeover process was based on international media reports, as stated in the article itself, and with such news widely circulating periodically in international media for many months.”
The Athletic researched the “international media reports” and declare the origin of Al-Watan’s false reporting was from a Wales-based Twitter feed titled ‘2SportTV’ which presently boasts lower than 300 followers.
Sheikh Jassim lodged a fifth, and supposedly closing, supply final week and insisted he would withdraw from the race ought to he not obtain a response by final Friday.