The Ultimate Yank Abroad

Some of the larger soccer clubs in Europe are actually publicly held companies, sort of like the Green Bay Packers. That's why American rich guy Malcom Glazer (he of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) has been able to effectively take over control of England's most well-known club, Manchester United, in a deal worth almost $1.5 BILLION. Glazer bought out the shares of two Irish shareholders and now controls more than 70% of the club's shares. If he can snap up a few more shares and pass the 75% mark, Glazer can remove ManU from the stock exchange and allow the club to take on substantial debts. At 90%, he could force out the remaining shareholders and assume complete control of the club.

ManU fans are pissed about this development, to say the least. They fear that unlike Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who bought Chelsea and pumped in loads of money to bring the club its first title in decades, Glazer is more interested in the American business prospects of the ManU brand. Fans are afraid that he will raise ticket prices to pay for the debt incurred in the purchase, sell players to make up the debt, or even sell (either in whole or the naming rights) to Old Trafford. Fears of a financial collapse as happened to my team Leeds last year are prevalent, as well.