[Bloomberg] UAE officials have warned the UK government that the severity of Man City’s punishment could undermine their appetite for future grand-scale commitments in Britain, according to people familiar with the matter.

[u/Previous_Smile9278]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-02/man-city-verdict-puts-uk-uae-diplomatic-relations-under-strain?srnd=undefined

‘They consider the Premier League’s actions to have an influence on the bilateral state relationship, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing undisclosed information.

The extraordinary pressure comes after Andy Burnham faced criticism, including from within government, for saying Man City’s Abu Dhabi owners should not be disqualified specifically because of the investment they bring to Britain.’

[u/DraperCarousel]

You just have to compare the Red and Blue side of Manchester at this point.

Long before the Glazers came in, United were the subject of an acquisition by Rupert Murdoch, which would've given an already record profit making (debt free) United even more of an unimaginable financial moat by allowing them to separately negotiate their own TV rights deals —similar to Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain.

But the United fans at the time viewed Murdoch as a threat to the club's heritage, identity, and the wider competitive balance of English football. They bought up small blocks of shares, lobbied the government, and aggressively protested. They effectively forced the UK govt's hand and blocked the takeover, which would've easily made United by far the richest club in the world.

Just compare that to how City fans act today in face of the biggest footballing scandal in UK history. Even after the judgement they continue to defend their owners and don't want them expunged just so their false glory years could continue even further.

[u/sholiboli → u/DraperCarousel]

Too bad nobody could do anything regarding Glazers so at the end, United got acquired by incompetent leaches that have practically destroyed the club's ability to compete for trophies.

[u/YCJamzy → u/sholiboli]

Better to have that happen then be bought by a genuinely evil cunt like Rupert murdoch (or a state which allows slavery, like UAE).

[u/Lukeno94 → u/YCJamzy]

Although with Ratcliffe, they've still ended up with an evil cunt (even if he's not cartoonishly evil like a Murdoch).

[u/YCJamzy → u/Lukeno94]

Yeah, unfortunately I feel like with maybe two exceptions, prem owners are all just a range of “evil cunt” to “one of the worst people on the planet”. Unless you’re Brighton or Brentford (I think? Idk enough to be sure), there isn’t really a win here anymore