Manchester United could be used as an exercise in sportswashing should Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani take over the club, according to a leading academic expert.
Throughout the takeover process, Sheikh Jassim has vehemently denied links to the Qatari government and has made efforts to distance himself from similarities being drawn between his bid and PSG's ownership. The Parisians are owned by the Qatar Sports Investment group which is overseen by the emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
But concerns over sportswashing would persist, just as they did with the winter World Cup in Qatar. For many, the December tournament won by Argentina was an example of sportswashing as the drama on the pitch washed over human rights abuses concerning the migrant workers who helped build the stadiums.
