Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/643/10460
From The Socialist newspaper, 20 October 2010
Readers' comment
Liverpool FC: "They don't care about fans!"
"THEY ONLY care about money, they don't care about fans, Liverpool Football Club is in the wrong hands!" sang Liverpool FC fans gathered outside London's Royal Courts of Justice. Fans from the Spirit of Shankly, Liverpool supporters' union were demonstrating against Liverpool owners George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks who were involved in a court case to maintain control of the club.
American capitalists, Gillett and Hicks, bought Liverpool to make money as is often the case with takeovers in the premier league these days. Their borrowing racked up huge debts for the club and left them in a poor position now and in the future.
Hicks and Gillett lost their case and Liverpool FC was sold to NESV (New England Sports Venture). Hicks lamented: "It hurt my family tremendously. This is a very valuable asset that was swindled away from me in an epic swindle!"
I found the fightback from these supporters rather inspiring (despite the fact that Liverpool will clearly never match the greatness of the mighty Arsenal!)
NESV may be saying all the right things now to the media, but unfortunately Liverpool fans might find this lot are as greedy and detached from their own love for the club as Gillett and Hicks were.
Fans will be thankful that their club's size and profitability found them new investment, unlike the poor souls up at Dundee FC. A man on Question Time said he wanted to watch football not business, but this is getting harder and harder to do.
The gamblers around the world gave us this recession, now they won't even let us follow our football teams in peace. Still these fans' show of defiance shows that however bent out of shape football has become due to capitalism, and however many businessmen see the game simply as a chance to turn a profit, the fans' spirit is still as heartfelt as ever.
Max Coakley
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Socialism 2010
Socialism 2010: ideas to fight the cuts
Socialist Party reviews
Days of Hope by Jim Allen, reviewed by Leigh Cartwright
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Sport
Liverpool FC: "They don't care about fans!"
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