Commenting on the rival bids by the INEOS CEO and the Qatari Islamic Bank chairman to buy Manchester United, Areeba Hamid, Greenpeace UK’s co-executive director, said:
“It’s worrying that the Man Utd bidding process has turned into a dirty derby between entities linked to fossil fuels. Kicked out of museums and art galleries, oil and gas is now invading the world of sport desperately looking for popular brands behind which to hide its climate-wrecking business. The Qatari Islamic Bank gets some of its revenues from oil and gas. INEOS is a major producer of plastic, toxic pesticides and fossil fuels, as well as one of the UK’s leading fracking firms. Having already plastered its brand all over cycling, sailing, football, running and rugby, INEOS is the undisputed champion of sportswashing. Whichever way this derby goes, the winner won’t be the climate.”
ENDS
Notes
INEOS business interests:
– Plastic: https://www.clientearth.org/
– Fossil fuel: https://www.clientearth.org/
– Pesticides: https://www.theguardian.com/
Qatari Islamic Bank:
– Revenues from oil and gas: Page 12 of https://www.qib.com.qa/wp-
