FA confirm shock offer to buy Wembley
LONDON: The Football Association have received an offer to buy iconic Wembley stadium in a shock move that increases the chances of an NFL team taking up permanent residence in London.
Shahid Khan, who owns Championship club Fulham and the NFL’S Jacksonville Jaguars, is behind the £500 million ($698 million) bid to buy the national stadium. “We can confirm that the FA has received an offer to buy Wembley Stadium,” an FA statement read.
According to the Evening Standard, Khan has struck an outline agreement with FA boss Martin Glenn to transfer Wembley to foreign ownership for the first time. The stunning proposal, which would also see Khan allow the FA to keep lucrative debenture and hospitality reve- nue worth around £300 million, was put before the full board of the domestic game’s governing body on Thursday.
Wembley, which has a 90,000capacity, was reopened in 2007 after the FA’S seven-year, £757 million rebuild of the home of English football.
The flamboyant Khan is a Pakistan-born American billionaire, who made his fortune in the car parts business.
“The games the Jaguars play at Wembley are essential to the financial stability of the Jaguars in Jacksonville, which is one of the smallest markets in the NFL,” Khan said.
“If my ownership interests were to include Wembley Stadium, it would protect the Jaguars’ position in London at a time when other NFL teams are understandably becoming more interested in this great city.
EB SACK JAMIL
Kolkata: East Bengal said they would replace Khalid Jamil as coach for this season. Technical director Subhas Bhowmick would stay in charge and a coach would be appointed soon, said the club at a media conference here on Thursday.
Under Jamil, who won the I-league with Aizawl FC, East Bengal finished fourth in the I-league last term and were runners-up in the Super Cup.