It was supposed to be one of the “great partnerships in sport”. The biggest football club in the world were to be taken over by one of the planets biggest media empires that was the driving force in creating the richest and most popular league in the world. As money was becoming a bigger and bigger influence in the beautiful game, who would object to this new venture thought the two protagonists? Quite a lot of people it turned out, as it was on this day in 1998 that BSkyB confirmed that they were locked in talks to buy Manchester United.

Rupert Murdoch and BSkyB were instrumental in the creation of the Premier League in 1992, and the wily Australian saw taking over the biggest team in the league as a chance to tap even further into untold riches that the booming football industry was beginning to offer. After what was rumoured to be several months of talks Murdoch had a £624.4m offer for the club accepted. This was the largest ever amount offered for a sports club anywhere in the world, and £50m more than the club had been originally valued, meaning that BSkyB really meant business.



However, this proved to be one of the most controversial episodes in Manchester United’s illustrious history, as fans, pundits and the government reacted with anger to the sale. Fans saws were furious that the United board were selling the soul of their club, putting money ahead of tradition. Chairman Martin Edwards was singled out for criticism as he was cashing in on his family’s legacy, as he stood to make nearly £100m from his shares. Fans groups, such as Shareholders United quickly mobilised and the knives were out for Murdoch.

Fears were also raised over a conflict of interest for Murdoch, as the deal would have meant that with one hand he would be able to sit at Sky’s table and dish out the cash for TV rights and with his Manchester United hat on, accept it. This meant that the government were quick to call in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission who put a stop to it, handing Murdoch his biggest defeat since his flirtation with bankruptcy in the early 1990s.

The MMC decision meant that the heart and soul of the worlds most famous football club remained intact. Well, it did at least until gnome-a-like Malcolm Glazer got out his credit card bought the club in 2005, borrowing hundreds of millions to do so. That however, is another story for another day. Join us tomorrow as we prepare for the weekend’s international action with a look at one of the Three Lions’ lowest ebbs.

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