What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Qatar Sheikh Wanting To Buy NRL Club

Slippery Morris

First Grade
Messages
7,395
When the Shiek hears how pathetic NRL is run then he will look the other way.

I can see it now..NRL will say to him "you can buy Saints but they are 1 of the teams that have a salary cap and are restricted on how much to spend. On the other hand we have clubs like Dogs, Roosters, Bronco's and NOW Sharks who have unlimited or no salary cap which may be worth your while to make into a super power.
 

possm

Coach
Messages
15,587
Can you please paste the article in here. Can't open it up.

The NRL could be set for a serious cash injection if reports of a Qatari billionaire wanting to invest in the game are to be believed.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani has expressed interest in sponsoring or buying an NRL club.

The sheikh, with an estimated family worth of $60 billion, learned of rugby league from Australian entrepreneur and St George Illawarra Dragons fan, Michael Ibrahim. The business man has reportedly worked in the Middle East for 18 years, and has strong ties to the Qatar royal family.


The sheikh quickly jumped on board to support rugby league teams based in the Pacific but commenting through spokesperson Dr Khalid Mohammed, the billionaire appears to want more.

"Money, funding, isn’t an issue for us," Dr Mohammad told News Corp.

"Rugby league is a very famous game in Australia, UK, New Zealand and all over the world.

"We can sponsor the clubs in Australia.

"He told us there are some struggling clubs in Australia and we are willing to buy them with correlation from Michael Ibrahim. He is a very a well-connected man there.

"We can definitely buy and give some support. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim would be funding all the activities. Definitely it will give us a return in terms of investment.

"Qatar is the wealthiest country in the Islamic world. Money has never been a problem."

Dr Mohammad said the sheikh, personally worth almost $3 billion, understands rugby league is a foreign sport to most in the Middle East, but they are keen to introduce it to Qatar, with a tournament featuring Qatar, Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji reportedly already being planned for next year.

"In Qatar, we are preparing for the World Cup and sport is a way of communicating and representing ourselves in the world," Dr Mohammad said.

The sheikhs wealth is in the company, Al Faisal Holding, with their mission statement according to their website being,"To exceed expectations every time and place we interact". He also owns a number of private museums located just outside Doha.

"This will be a win-win situation," Ibrahim said.

"There would be interest in rugby league in Qatar, they would love it."
 

possm

Coach
Messages
15,587
When the Shiek hears how pathetic NRL is run then he will look the other way.

I can see it now..NRL will say to him "you can buy Saints but they are 1 of the teams that have a salary cap and are restricted on how much to spend. On the other hand we have clubs like Dogs, Roosters, Bronco's and NOW Sharks who have unlimited or no salary cap which may be worth your while to make into a super power.
Or the NRL will call in the loan to the Dragons leaving us with no option but to sell.

See you later Doust.
See you later coaching staff.
Goodbye Millward and Young factions.
Hello top 4.
 

Gareth67

First Grade
Messages
8,406
Or the NRL will call in the loan to the Dragons leaving us with no option but to sell.

See you later Doust.
See you later coaching staff.
Goodbye Millward and Young factions.
Hello top 4.

Possum , mate , should this ever occur , we will be able to say " it was written " , the Arab saying that it was all predetermined many years ago . And the last few years of hell that we have all gone through , was merely to test our true commitment to the club .
 

Gareth67

First Grade
Messages
8,406
Personally, there isn’t a player l detest more than Smith.
Woods is just soft. A big girls’ blouse.
Goes MIA when needed.

Could not agree more O.K.B. 1 . Woods for such a big unit one would expect a bit more ' bang ' for their money . I realise that he is a Roo , however he needs to add some more ommph in his tackling . I mean really lay into the opposition , just like John Donnelly did at the Magpies in the blood and thunder of Lidcombe Oval .
 

jak

Bench
Messages
3,060
Could not agree more O.K.B. 1 . Woods for such a big unit one would expect a bit more ' bang ' for their money . I realise that he is a Roo , however he needs to add some more ommph in his tackling . I mean really lay into the opposition , just like John Donnelly did at the Magpies in the blood and thunder of Lidcombe Oval .
Donnelly took the ball up a lot harder than woods ever has.
 

Saintsified

Bench
Messages
3,558
429bff872de635e619d9dba1a1c3cc02c4e5a0e0cfb91b88ede37344241d17de.jpg
The Iron Sheik?
 

Gareth67

First Grade
Messages
8,406
IMG_0658.PNG Struth ! Stone the flaming crows and send the missus out to bingo for the night !
A mysterious Saudi sheik has gone out and bought himself a $596m Da Vinci painting to hang in Doust's old office .
Looks like he has refurbishment plans in mind ? ?
Move over Bruce , this chap is not going to quibble over a few hundred million dollars .
 
Last edited:

Splinters

Juniors
Messages
72
I wonder what they would change the club's name to? Surely "St George" couldn't be part of it?

"DUBAI (Reuters) - The club crest of Spanish soccer team Real Madrid will not feature the traditional Christian cross on clothing sold in some Middle East countries under a regional deal."
 
Messages
241
Coffs .. yes show me the money.. surely we must at least have an independent do the due diligence .. as we all know it’s now a business and survival will be based on success and financial viability.

The disclaimer here is it’s the mole.. however, if any of the below is true .. name the officials .. in fact you probably don’t need to.. the ones most concerned about change are pretty obvious.. the same ones who a happy swilling in the trough of mediocrity and protection.

“Some officials are worried about losing their jobs and that could make the buyout not happen."


‘Qatar sheik wants to buy St George Illawarra Dragons: The Mole


Sheik to target Dragons

The Qatari sheik interested in getting involved in rugby league is poised to make a bid to buy the St George Illawarra Dragons.


One of the world’s wealthiest men with an estimated worth of over $60 billion, Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani is set to target the Dragons.


Reports emerged earlier this month that the oil tycoon is keen to invest in rugby league after learning of the game from Australian mates.


And WWOS has been told that Thani is considering buying the Dragons and attempting to make them a super power in world sport.


“We have heard he wants to buy the club but there is some resistance to it - believe it or not," a Dragons source tells me.


"Some officials are worried about losing their jobs and that could make the buyout not happen."
 

Latest posts

Top