The Corporate Greed Killing Manchester United: A Case Study in Late-Stage Capitalism

 Sunday 22nd 2024. Manchester United 0 - Bournemouth 3. For the first time in Premier League history, Manchester United will be in the bottom half of the table on Christmas day. Oh how the mighty have fallen. 

Manchester United, once the jewel of English football and a bastion of working-class pride, has devolved into a glaring symbol of corporate greed. Its trajectory—from a community-rooted club to a soulless, profit-driven enterprise—offers a powerful lens through which we can examine the corrosive effects of unchecked capitalism on culture, society, and the things people hold dear.

Under the ownership of the Glazer family and now part owned with billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United’s narrative has transformed from a storied legacy of footballing triumphs into an indictment of corporate exploitation. This is the story of how a football club, symbolic of working-class identity, became a financial plaything—and why it should serve as a warning to all industries.


From Community to Commodity

Football, at its heart, is a working-class sport—a communal escape, a source of collective pride, and a platform for upward social mobility. Manchester United epitomized these values. From the glory years of Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson to the vibrant terraces of Old Trafford, the club was a shining example of unity and resilience.

However, this sense of community eroded rapidly after the Glazer family’s leveraged buyout in 2005. Instead of representing its fans, the club became a tool for financial speculation, drowning in debt so the Glazers could profit. With over £500 million in debt saddled on the club, much of Manchester United’s revenue now lines the pockets of owners who rarely show their faces at matches, let alone empathize with the average fan’s struggles.

Key effects of corporate greed at Manchester United:

  1. Skyrocketing Ticket Prices: What was once an affordable pastime for local families has turned into an overpriced commodity. The minimum cost for a man, woman or child is now £66. 
  2. Decline in Footballing Standards: The prioritization of profit over investment has left the club in decline, with outdated facilities and a bloated, mismanaged wage bill. Previous CEO Ed Woodward who had a career as an investment banker before taken the reins at United, famously stated that United need not worry about their on pitch performance, such was his assurance that the brand, the corporation was strong enough to keep Man U afloat. 
  3. Disregard for Fans: Protests against the Glazers have been ignored, highlighting the rift between corporate owners and the club’s working-class roots.

Football as a Mirror of Corporate Greed

The fall of Manchester United parallels larger societal trends, where communities and traditions are monetized by corporate interests. Just as multinational corporations extract wealth from workers and natural resources, billionaire club owners siphon value from fans and players, often with disastrous consequences for the product itself.

The Rise of “Top-Heavy” Ownership

Corporate owners like the Glazers and INEOS treat clubs not as community institutions but as assets on a balance sheet. By prioritizing commercial sponsorship's, global brand expansion, and television deals over meaningful engagement with local fans, they further entrench inequality. Much like the billionaire class in broader society, they take from the many to serve the few. Because they have been so badly mismanaged yet the owners still retain a profit in the form of dividends, it is those of the working class in the club that suffer. From receptionists to stewards, jobs to Christmas vouchers, those who create the heartbeat of this club suffer despite being its truest fans. Sacrifice comes from the bottom up. Not the other way around. 

This model is unsustainable:

  • Short-Term Gains Over Long-Term Success: Owners prioritize profits over on-pitch success. The result? Manchester United’s lack of trophies and diminishing reputation.
  • Global vs. Local: Clubs increasingly cater to international audiences and sponsors, alienating loyal local supporters. This is not just a United problem. Managers and players throughout are raising their voices on the absurdity of games they have the play in a calendar year with breakdowns becoming inevitable in the quest for more and more ticket sales across the globe.

The European Super League: A Peak in Exploitation

If there were ever a moment that showcased the full scale of football’s corporate greed, it was the proposed European Super League (ESL). Manchester United was one of the founding clubs behind this scheme, a blatant attempt to commodify exclusivity and further entrench the wealth of Europe’s elite football teams.
The backlash was swift, with fans from across Europe uniting against a proposal that would have destroyed the competitive integrity of football. Yet, the fact that the ESL even got to the proposal stage speaks volumes about how billionaires have hijacked the sport.

Manchester United’s Role in the ESL:

  • The Glazers spearheaded the effort, driven by promises of massive financial returns for the elite clubs involved.
  • Fans saw the ESL as the final nail in the coffin of football as a working-class institution.

Lessons for Society

The saga of Manchester United under the Glazers is more than a story about football—it’s a warning about capitalism itself. When profit becomes the sole driver of institutions, they are stripped of their humanity. Whether it’s football, healthcare, education, or housing, corporate greed undermines the very fabric of society.

What Can Fans and Workers Do?

Just as Manchester United supporters rallied to block the Super League, fans and workers in all sectors must unite against corporate exploitation:

  • Grassroots Movements: Encourage boycotts, protests, and advocacy for fan ownership.
  • Unionizing and Solidarity: Workers in non-football industries must also mobilize to fight the billionaire class.
  • Demand Accountability: Politicians and regulators must hold corporate owners to account, ensuring no institution can be gutted for personal gain.

Conclusion: A Call to Reclaim Manchester United and Society

Manchester United was once a symbol of resilience, pride, and working-class ingenuity. Today, it is a stark reminder of what happens when greed takes precedence over people. Yet, in this dark chapter lies an opportunity—to unite against billionaire owners and demand a future where institutions, whether football clubs or public services, truly serve their communities.

Manchester United’s battle is every worker’s battle. In reclaiming the soul of the club, we fight to reclaim the soul of society itself. It’s time to show the billionaires they are outnumbered—and, more importantly, outmatched by the collective power of the people.

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