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DOSSIER In this photo of Wednesday, October 3, 2018, a view of the exterior of Wembley Stadium in London. The English Football Federation has given up selling Wembley Stadium after American sporting magnate Shad Khan withdrew his offer despite the opposition. Khan owns the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL and Premier League football club Fulham. He had offered 600 million pounds ($ 790 million) for the stadium. (Kirsty Wigglesworth, File / Associated Press)
LONDON – Wembley Stadium remains in the hands of English football.
US sports mogul Shad Khan on Wednesday dropped a £ 600m bid for the main asset of the English Football Federation, after recognizing the extent of the opposition to the sale.
Khan, who owns the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL and Fulham Premier League football club, planned to buy Wembley to give hope that a football franchise would be transferred to London.
After the takeover was broken a week before a key FA vote, Khan reiterated the Jaguars' commitment to continue to play an annual regular season game in London, but only as "home away from home." at home".
The FA has not been under any financial pressure to sell the 11-year-old stadium, but has seized Khan's interest in funding football facilities in England's communities while retaining Wembley's use for matches of the national team and the finals of the national cup.
Even though English football was at its peak after the men's national team reached its first World Cup semi-final in 28 years in July, FA leaders failed to get support. needed to sell a stadium with one of the world's best-known sports brands.
The FA revealed last week that there was more opposition than support after questioning 22,500 people, including club and league officials, referees, adult and youth players, coaches , volunteers and members of the public.
"The intention of my efforts was, and is, to do everyone's good in a way that strengthens the English game and brings people together, does not divide them," Khan said. "Unfortunately, given the current situation, I concluded that the result of a vote next week would be far from sufficient to express the broad support desired by the president of the FA for the sale of Wembley Stadium."
The FA was hoping for a quick sale after the publication of Khan's bid in April and only provided significant details of the terms of the agreement when it became apparent that resistance to an agreement was growing on its 127-member council.
Gary Neville was one of the most outspoken critics. He played for England and Manchester United before working as an assistant coach for the national team for four years. Neville said at a British parliamentary hearing on the sale in July that it was "ridiculous" that Wembley had to be sold to pay for local infrastructure when England hosts the most competitive football competition. rich in the world. The Premier League generates each season more than 2 billion pounds of broadcasters. The agents received 211 million pounds from the 20 teams for trading transfers and player contracts.
"At a recent meeting with Mr Khan, he told us that, without stronger support from the game, his bid was perceived as a more important dividing factor than expected and decided to withdraw his proposal", said Martin, chief executive of the French federation Glenn said in a statement. "Wembley Stadium is an iconic venue that is revered worldwide and will continue to flourish under the ownership and direction of the FA."
Although the FA claimed that "the Wembley stadium will not be sold," Khan did not give up buying the North London stadium.
"I can not rule out the possibility of revisiting this opportunity at another time, when the Football Association family may be unified on its chances," he said.
Wembley, which opened in 1923, has been hosting NFL games every year since the completion of the new stadium under the arch, 11 years ago, at a cost of £ 800 million.
Khan's Jaguars are still engaged in trips to the British capital, with an agreement to play in London until 2020 in Wembley or for the new stadium built for the Premier League club, Tottenham, which has a contract with the NFL for 10 years.
"We will continue to focus on London and the role played by the UK in ensuring a bright future for the Jaguars in downtown Jacksonville," said Khan. "London, home of the Jaguars, remains a priority. Downtown Jacksonville and the Jaguars playing a catalytic role in its revitalization remains a priority. "
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