MANCHESTER: It’s been a year since one of Britain’s richest men bought into its most famous soccer team and vowed to bring the good times back.
So far, it hasn’t gone to plan for Manchester United or Jim Ratcliffe.
The record 20-time English champion are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League, losing vast sums of money every year and facing fan unrest.
Even head coach Ruben Amorim said recently that this might be the worst team in the club’s storied history.
That’s not all on Ratcliffe, the billionaire owner of petrochemicals giant INEOS, but it has been a rocky start since he paid $1.3 billion for an initial 25 percent stake in United and assumed control of their soccer operations.
There have been high profile hirings and firings, brutal cost cutting, a hike in ticket prices and new lows on the field for a team that had been in decline for more than a decade before he became minority owner.
While there was triumph in the FA Cup last year, that success has been overshadowed by supporter protests, job losses, unconvincing transfers and humbling defeats.
Bold plans
Ratcliffe said his investment was “just the beginning of our journey to take Manchester United back to the top of English, European and world football.”
Those ambitions feel further away now than they have in decades, with United 15th in the standings and closer to the relegation zone than the top six after a woeful campaign. Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham was the 12th in the league this season and an eighth under Amorim, who only took charge in November.
Amorim said: “I have a lot of problems, my job is so hard, but I am here to continue my job to the next week with my beliefs.”
Major overhaul
He was one of a number of key hires made as part of Ratcliffe’s overhaul of United’s soccer operations.
Omar Berrada was lured away from Manchester City to become CEO and Dan Ashworth left Newcastle to take up the role of sporting director. Jason Wilcox, formerly director of City’s academy, became technical director.
Key figures at Ratcliffe’s Ineos Sport, Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc, were appointed to the board and Amorim became the final piece of a new leadership team after former manager Erik ten Hag was fired in October.
But that restructuring has been far from a smooth process.
Ten Hag was fired three months after being handed a one-year contract extension with United having lost four of their opening nine league games.
Ashworth left the club less than six months after taking up his role, and after months of negotiations to take him away from Newcastle.
They were expensive missteps.
In total it cost United 10.4 million pounds ($13.09 million) to pay off Ten Hag and his staff and another 11 million pounds ($13.85 million) to trigger Amorim’s release from Sporting Lisbon.
It was reported it cost between 2 and 3 million pounds ($2.5-3.78 million) to hire Ashworth, who spent five months on gardening leave during negotiations with Newcastle.
Cost cutting
Those numbers make uncomfortable reading at a time when United has implemented cost-saving initiatives that they said included staff redundancies of around 250 roles. More could be on the way, according to reports.
In October it emerged that managerial great Alex Ferguson was not beyond the reach of those measures. He will step down from his lucrative role as club ambassador at the end of the season.
In addition to cuts, United raised their lowest-priced tickets to 66 pounds ($81) partway through the season, up from 40 pounds ($49).
They defended that decision by telling fans it could not sustain their current financial losses and were in danger of breaching league rules if they did not act. United reported losses last year of 113.2 million pounds ($140 million).
“We will get back to a cash positive position as soon as possible and we will have to make some difficult choices to get there,” they said in a letter to fans.
Fan protests
That explanation has not gone down well with supporters.
“Fans should not be paying the price for previous bad ownership & bad management,” Manchester United Supporters Trust posted on X. “The supporters bring far more value than the simple collective ticket revenue.”
Supporters spent years trying to drive out the American Glazer family, which is still majority owner, and there continues to be anger toward them after Ratcliffe’s investment.
There have been jeers for the team while United’s performances on the field have continued to slide.
New lows
Ratcliffe’s first season as co-owner saw United endure their worst league campaign in 34 years when they finished in eighth place.
The end of his first full season could be even worse.
The last time they lost 12 of their first 25 games in a league season was in the 1973-74 campaign when they were relegated from the top flight.
Transfer strategy
United have spent around $260 million on players in the two transfer windows under Ratcliffe, but the squad still looks well short of the quality required to challenge for the title.
Forward Joshua Zirkzee has struggled to adapt to the Premier League and defender Leny Yoro missed a large part of the season through injury.
The pressure of complying with the league’s financial rules has placed uncertainty on United’s ability to spend big in the summer to bring in players to suit Amorim’s preferred system, and there is unlikely to be a quick fix.
Stadium rebuild
Ratcliffe wants a world class stadium, either by way of redeveloping United’s iconic Old Trafford or building one from new.
His plans, which include an ambitious redevelopment of the surrounding area, have been backed by the UK government. Financing them, however, is another issue and it is not yet clear where that money will come from.
The modernization of United’s Carrington training ground is well underway after 50 million pounds ($63 million) of investment.
The future
United haven’t lifted the league title since Ferguson’s last season in 2013 and behind the scenes the focus is on winning it for a record-extending 21st time. But with Liverpool on course to equal United’s haul of 20 this season, it is the club’s great rival from Merseyside that could set that new bar first.
Ratcliffe is a hugely successful businessman but, as he is discovering, that does not guarantee success in soccer.
Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s first year at Man United has not gone to plan
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Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s first year at Man United has not gone to plan
- Ratcliffe said his investment was “just the beginning of our journey to take Manchester United back to the top of English, European and world football”
- “Fans should not be paying the price for previous bad ownership & bad management,” Manchester United Supporters Trust posted on X
Time to be positive about the Pakistan Super League, says Sameen Rana
- Co-owner and COO of the Lahore Qalandars spoke to Arab News about the decade-old league and the challenges of biking a team
DUBAI: Viewed from several perspectives, it is a real achievement that the Pakistan Super League has reached its 10th year intact. It has survived COVID-19, regular changes in leadership at both Pakistan Cricket Board and political level, on-going unrest, spot-fixing, the rise of competing leagues, security issues and a seeming indifference to it outside of Pakistan.
The original contract between the PCB/PSL and the franchises contained a clause to review their value after 10 years. This now a bone of contention. It was revealed as such during an interview conducted by Arab News with Sameen Rana, co-owner and chief operating officer of the Lahore Qalandars. In a wide-ranging discussion, the motivation for the initial purchase was highlighted, followed by the challenges of building a team and an identity, concluding with a consideration of future prospects.
Rana was clear that the original motivation was “love of the country because the business model did not make sense. It was not something that was going to make money. At time of set up, the Indian Premier League was excluding Pakistani players — for us it was very much a national cause, and we wanted to do it for the country.”
It is apparent from comments made by owners of the other four original franchises that this was a common motivation. Together, the original five paid $93 million for 10 years, in a range of $5 million to $25 million.
Having made their investments, the owners were faced with building a squad of players, coaches and support staff. Rana admitted that this was a challenge. The first year was played in the UAE and, from a personal view he did not like it “as it was not the Pakistani tournament, playing in empty stadiums with small crowds who were brought in via the networks of the franchises.” However, there were “logistical benefits for the overseas players and it also meant that it allowed domestic players to play at a time when international cricket was not being played in Pakistan.”
In 2017, the PSL was played again in the UAE, but the final was played in Lahore. This was a highlight for Rana, seeing the stadium in Lahore jam-packed. The owners “had invested for the country, for the cause, and that that only became live when played in Pakistan.” Yet, that euphoria was tempered by the realities of running a cricket franchise. Rana openly emphasized that he, his brothers and others involved were businesspeople, new to cricket.
“We had no background in cricket at all. This meant we had to learn on the job. Looking back at the first year of the draft, we were unlucky in terms of the emerging category, because we had the last pick. This meant that we could not pick the players whom we wanted and the squad was not up to scratch.”
Lahore Qalandars struggled in the early years, being eliminated in the group stages. Rana revealed that they “felt disadvantaged in building a competitive squad because the more successful franchises were able to retain up to 16 players.” This meant that the top players were unavailable to the Qalandars. A different strategy was needed to build a core squad.
Rana said: “All we were hearing from various players and cricket stakeholders was that there is no talent. So, we decided to challenge that by going into the streets of Pakistan, initiating a player development program, supported by a lot of personal resources, providing player salaries, facilities for development and sending them abroad to play and learn. In this way, we have found new talent and provided the youth of Pakistan with an opportunity to make their career and to achieve their dreams through a fast-track program.”
The strategy worked to such good effect that the Qalandars finished runners-up in 2020 and champions in both 2022 and 2023. Now, there are new challenges to face, as the PSL prepares for its second decade. Disquiet has been expressed publicly by Ali Tareen of the Multan Sultans, suggesting that “the PSL’s marketing has declined, and the excitement around the tournament has also diminished compared to previous years.”
Rana disagrees with any suggestion that the PSL has lost its momentum. He takes the view that, whilst there are challenges to be faced and overcome, the PSL has been a force for good. “Ten years ago, there was no Lahore Qalandars, there was no PSL, there were no opportunities for the younger players to earn financially or to showcase their talent. There were no foreign players coming, there was no competitiveness. We were only dependent on the domestic T20 tournament, which few people watch. So, we have come a long way.”
However, he highlights a key challenge which is being faced. This is the new contract with the PSL. It seems that what the PSL has put on the table is renewal at either the current price, plus 25 percent, or the current price plus a new valuation of each team. At present, the new valuation is not available. Rana’s concern is that this potential hike in fee fails to recognize the part which franchises have played in building the brands.
He argues that “if you have worked hard to do this for the betterment of the PSL, then you are ending up paying more money as a fee, rather than getting credit for the work done. If Lahore Qalandars had not undertaken a player development program, then our valuation would be lower. This contradiction is a fundamental problem in the contract and against the objective of any contract, because it is encouraging the investor to do nothing.”
Franchises have revealed that it has taken years to overcome losses and not all of them have yet done so. A public statement from the owner of the Karachi Kings, Salman Iqbal, suggested that “if teams are still not generating profits in the current environment, the problem likely lies with their own operational models rather than the league itself.”
What must be galling for the franchise owners is that during 10 years of building loyal fanbases, enhancing commercial strategies and honing marketing strategies, the body which has consistently made money is the PSL and, by extension, the PCB.
A detailed financial analysis is beyond the scope of this column but such an analysis would reveal that the PSL has bankrolled the PCB for years. Only the return of international cricket to Pakistan, which has generated ICC and ACC revenues, has changed the balance. It is understandable that the franchise owners might feel under appreciated. The PSL was born in exile, nurtured amid political chaos, and sustained by franchise owners who have lost money. They invested for Pakistan. The PSL survived and gave creditability to Pakistan’s cricketing reputation.
Rana requests that “everybody remains positive and not create a culture of negativity, which can only damage Pakistan. The PSL has the future of players attached to it, plus a range of economic activity, so that should not be destroyed.”
In that context, it might be assumed that now is the time for the PCB to recognize the debt they owe to franchise owners, rather than run the risk of alienating them.
It is fair to say that the PCB/PSL stands at a crossroads. The return of international cricket provides an opportunity for the PCB to see the contribution which the franchises have made to that outcome. The love which they have displayed for the country through their PSL investment amounts to an act of faith. Whether that faith will be reciprocated in the negotiations to come or whether the PCB will seek, or be forced, to lever increased value for the rights to franchise is a matter now being played out. Once again, the PSL’s future is under pressure and Rana has pinpointed the central issue.
Winners of Saudi Coastal Rowing Championships crowned
- Darin Beach contest featured 46 male and female competitors in nine different categories
- Event aimed to promote the sport and discover athletes with championship caliber
JUBAIL: Mu’ayyad Al-Rashidi won the men’s singles and Haya Al-Mami won the women’s singles at the Saudi Coastal Rowing Championships at Darin Beach in Jubail, which ended on Tuesday.
The event, organized by the Saudi Rowing Federation, attracted 46 male and female competitors, competing in nine different categories.
The two days of action were aimed at promoting the sport and discovering athletes with championship caliber.
In other results, Israa Qadri and Turki Al-Arif took first place in the mixed doubles.
Rad’an Al-Dosari triumphed in the under 23 youth singles, while Abdullah Al-Mami won the under 19 junior singles title.
Al-Jazi Al-Ibrahim took first place in the under 19 girls’ singles and Shams Abu Al-Ainain won the under 17 girls’ singles.
Ahmed Al-Qahtani and Dhari Al-Enezi snatched victory in the under 17 junior doubles.
Ali Husain Alireza, chairman of the board of the Saudi Rowing Federation, and Dha’ar bin Shuja’a Al-Mutairi, director-general of support services at the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, attended the event.
Alireza praised the outstanding technical level of the championship and congratulated the winners on their achievements.
He said that the championship represented an important step in promoting rowing, expanding the base of practitioners in the Kingdom and contributing to the discovery of promising champions.
Saudi Arabia beat hosts by 7 wickets to top table at Malaysia Quadrangular
- Final on Friday is against Malaysia, who finished second in the standings
KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia will face Malaysia in the final of the Malaysia Quadrangular in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, May 2, after beating the hosts by seven wickets.
Openers Faisal Khan and Abdul Waheed set up the victory in posting an opening stand of 100 in just nine overs.
Earlier in the week Saudi Arabia had repeated their victories over Thailand and Singapore in the second round of the tournament to set up a match against Malaysia that would decide first and second in the league table.
Saudi Arabia had recovered from 90 for four against Thailand thanks to a partnership of 80 in 5.2 overs from Waji Ul-Hassan and Manan Ali. Ul-Hassan then became the third Saudi Arabian to take five wickets in T20I cricket with five for nine as the Kingdom won by 39 runs.
Against Singapore, three wickets apiece for Ishtiaq Ahmed and Zain Ul-Abidin, restricted the opponents to 112 for seven. Although Khan suffered his second duck in two matches, Waheed made 42 from 28 deliveries, with Saudi Arabia winning by seven wickets inside 15 overs.
The Saudi team had won four matches out of five to stand on eight points, just one point behind Malaysia, who had a no-result against Singapore because of rain.
Hence, the winner of the second encounter between the two teams would determine the group winner. Malaysia had chased down Saudi Arabia’s score in their previous match, so the Saudis chose to bowl first.
Virandeep Singh had carried Malaysia to victory with four wickets and a brilliant unbeaten 93 in the previous match, so it was an important breakthrough when Ul-Hassan dismissed him, caught behind for 21 from 21 balls.
Syed Aziz reached his 50 from 38 balls on the way to 67 from 49 balls but Malaysia only made 160 for six, despite Sharvin Muniady hitting the last two balls of the innings for six.
Saudi Arabia’s opening partnership was likely to be key as Khan and Waheed had often provided an exciting launch pad for the innings.
Khan played out two dot balls and then was away with a six over mid-wicket, racing to 30 from 12 balls out of the 50-run partnership in 3.3 overs. He made 50 inside the first six overs, needing only 20 balls to reach the landmark, hitting six sixes and three fours.
Saudi Arabia’s score stood on 80 for no wicket after six overs. Then Singh was introduced in the attack and the field spread out, allowing singles to be easily taken as the openers changed gear. Khan did hit another six before 100 was posted in just nine overs.
He was dismissed for 66 from 32 balls and his partnership with Waheed was exactly 100 in 9.1 overs when he was caught by Singh, off the bowling of Pavandeep Singh. In the tournament he maintained a strike rate close to 200 and hit a total of 14 sixes.
Pavandeep claimed a second wicket, but the required rate was down to five runs an over. Waheed completed his 50 from 39 balls with five fours and had played a fine supporting role to the explosive Khan.
He was third out with 27 runs needed, captain Ul-Hassan guiding his side to victory with an unbeaten 22 from 18 balls, and Saudi Arabia winning by seven wickets with 2.1 overs to spare.
The two sides will meet again in the final on May 2, while Singapore will play Thailand in the third-place playoff.
Trio of Saudi fighters looking to shine at PFL MENA 1 in Jeddah
- Malik Basahel, Abdulaziz bin Moammar and Ahmed Makki will take part in the action at Onyx Arena
JEDDAH: PFL MENA will begin its second season at the Onyx Arena in Jeddah on May 9 with a trio of fighters from the Kingdom looking to leave their mark in front of the home crowd.
When Malik Basahel, Abdulaziz bin Moammar and Ahmed Makki make their respective entrances into the world-famous PFL SmartCage, it will symbolize a different chapter in each of their careers.
For Basahel, PFL MENA 1 in Jeddah will mark the beginning of his professional mixed martial arts career. The 23-year-old will be competing in his first pro fight when he takes on Mountasser Boutouta in a Flyweight Showcase bout.
“I’m preparing for my first professional fight after 25 amateur bouts, where I won 21 times,” said Basahel, who has put together an impressive 21-3-1 amateur slate, which includes five wins by KO/TKO and eight wins by submission. While this will not be Basahel’s first trip to the PFL SmartCage, it will be arguably his most important, as he makes the jump to the professional ranks in front of a Saudi crowd.
“This motivates me to perform at my best and make a strong entry into the professional scene,” Basahel said.
While this will be Basahel’s first pro outing, his vast amateur experience has been a huge learning experience, as he details what he needs to do to score his first career win.
“Every fighter has a different style, but the most important thing is inner focus and the ability to react instantly to the opponent’s moves,” he said.
For his training regimen, Basahel says that he sticks to a strict routine and highlights the importance of the right attitude.
“Discipline and consistency are keys to success. You need a structured training schedule — not three days on and two days off.
“Stick to a strict training program for months if you want to succeed in combat sports.”
For Abdulaziz bin Moammar, the amateur journey continues, but this time he will be competing on the biggest stage he has ever been on. With a 10-3 record as an amateur, the Saudi native will start the PFL MENA 1 card against Fares Hamdani in an amateur Catchweight contest.
“This tournament in Jeddah will be special, as the city has hosted many major events before,” Moammar said. “Jeddah is the birthplace of MMA in Saudi Arabia, and its crowd is knowledgeable and passionate.”
While still competing as an amateur, Moammar is already making sure that his tools are well-sharpened as he continues down a path that will eventually lead to a promising professional career.
“I’m always working to become more complete — better on the ground and in striking — through experience and sparring with champions,” he said.
Whenever he steps inside the cage, Moammar says that he does not just go out there for himself.
“Victory is always my goal because I represent not just myself, but my family, supporters and country. That’s a big responsibility,” he said.
While PFL MENA 1 may be a starting point for some and a continuation of the journey for others, the card will mark the end of the line for Makki, one of Saudi Arabian MMA’s true pioneers.
Makki turned pro in 2014 and compiled a 1-3-1 professional record, with appearances under the Desert Force, Phoenix FC and Brave CF promotions.
Competing for the first time since 2018, Makki returns for his final bout on the biggest stage of his career.
“I’m one of the first fighters to start this sport in Saudi Arabia and I witnessed how combat sports evolved in The Kingdom,” Makki said.
“I chose to have my final professional fight in my hometown of Jeddah, in front of my people and the Saudi audience.”
While Makki’s fighting resume may not be as lengthy as the other fighters that have come after him, he is glad that he can include a PFL appearance in his list of accomplishments before calling it a day.
“I’m happy to end my journey in a championship event hosted by my own city,” he said. “Participating in the PFL in Jeddah is a great addition to my career after competing and succeeding in both international and local events.”
For international regional tournaments, one of the PFL’s main goals is to be able to shine the spotlight on up-and-coming local talent, giving them a pathway to international glory and success. For Makki, he relishes the opportunity to be one of those passing the torch to the next generation of MMA stars from Saudi Arabia.
“It’s time to pass the torch to the new generation,” he said. “There are many Saudi talents capable of shining on the global stage.”
Abu Dhabi set for third round of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- Event takes place May 2-4 at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City
ABU DHABI: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation has announced that the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, round three for Gi competitors, will take place here from May 2 to 4 at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City.
The UAEJJF event will feature a range of competitors, starting with the youth (under-18), adults, and masters categories on the first day.
The second day will have the under-14 and under-16 competitors, and will conclude on the third day with the under-12 athletes.
Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAEJJF, highlighted the successes of the championship which “embody the vision of the wise leadership in supporting and developing the sport of jiu-jitsu.”
The high levels demonstrated by the athletes “reflects the championship’s position as a leading platform for honing skills and preparing future champions.
“Since its inception, the championship, which bears a name close to our hearts, has received sizable interest from various segments of the community, reflecting the growing popularity of jiu-jitsu in Emirati society,” he added.
“The championship also represents a unique opportunity for families to encourage their sons and daughters and enjoy an exciting sporting atmosphere.”
“The tournament reflects the values of social cohesion, instils a culture of sports in society and contributes to building strong generations grounded in self-confidence, belonging and a sense of responsibility.”
Al-Dhaheri said the championship was a “well-structured tournament with a competitive ranking system for athletes in place.
“This system enhances competition between clubs and academies, raises competitor efficiency, and provides incentives that drive interest in the tournament and intensify the competition for top rankings and titles.”
