Wembley Stadium sale called off as billionaire bidder backs out of £600m deal
American billionaire Shahid Khan has withdrawn his £600m offer for Wembley Stadium, saying the bid does not have enough support within the Football Association.
Khan, who owns Premier-League side Fulham and American football team Jacksonville Jaguars, said he believes the FA would not vote to accept his offer.
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He said: "Until a time when it is evident there is an unmistakable directive from the FA to explore and close a sale, I am respectfully withdrawing my offer to purchase Wembley Stadium."
The FA said it had seriously considered Khan’s bid, and was due to vote on it next week.
FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: “Mr Khan believed that his offer to buy Wembley Stadium would release funds to help improve community football facilities in England and that it would be well received by all football stakeholders.
“At a recent meeting with Mr Khan he expressed to us that, without stronger support from within the game, his offer is being seen as more divisive than it was anticipated to be and has decided to withdraw his proposal.”
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Khan said he could bid again "under proper circumstances".
"I cannot rule out revisiting the opportunity at another time when perhaps the FA family is unified in its views on the opportunity," he said.