Pakistani billionaire Shahid Khan eyes ownership of Wembley Stadium
LONDON: Pakistani-American billionaire Shahid Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars American football team, is in talks to buy the iconic Wembley Stadium, British media reported on Thursday.
England’s Football Association revealed earlier today that they have received an offer to buy Wembley Stadium – the home of the English football team.
The London Evening Standard reported that 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 Standard, Khan has struck an outline agreement with FA boss Martin Glenn to transfer Wembley to foreign ownership for the first time.
The shocking proposal was being put before the full board of the domestic game´s governing body on Thursday.
Wembley, which has a 90,000-capacity, was reopened in 2007 after the FA´s seven-year, £757 million rebuilds of the home of English football.
Under the plan, the FA would keep Wembley as the main venue for major matches, including England internationals and the FA Cup Final, but the national football team could play elsewhere in October and November due to clashes with the US National Football League season, The Sun reported.
The flamboyant Khan is a Pakistan-born American billionaire, who made his fortune in the car parts business.
