Qatar Fund Cooling Investment in France, Including PSG Owners
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Sports
February 13, 2025 18:35
- Qatar's investment vehicles, including PSG's majority owners, are slowing down their interests in France, according to sources.
Qatar's Investment Vehicles Cooling Interest in France
Sources have revealed that Qatar's investment vehicles, including the majority owners of Paris Saint-Germain, are reducing their interests in France. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and PSG's majority ownership group, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), have been scaling back their investments in the country for over a year. This change in investment strategy is not a direct response to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi's involvement in an investigation in France.
The investigation, unrelated to Al-Khelaifi's activities at PSG, involves his connections to a French businessman and allegations of complicity in corrupt practices. Al-Khelaifi has denied the charges, with a source close to him emphasizing that the case is baseless and will likely fade away over time.
Qatar's officials have cited perceived unfair treatment from local media, the justice system, and politicians in France as reasons for reevaluating their investments in the country. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has already started divesting parts of its French portfolio, signaling a shift from what used to be a priority market for Qatari investment arms.
QSI, which acquired PSG in 2011, has made significant investments in the club, leading to multiple Ligue 1 titles and domestic successes. Despite this, the club has not achieved QSI's ultimate goal of winning the Champions League. In a bid to attract external investors, QSI welcomed American investment fund Arctos, along with NBA star Kevin Durant, as minority equity stakeholders in 2023.
beIN Media Group, which holds Ligue 1 broadcast rights, has been in investment discussions with Saudi Arabia while reducing its media rights spending in France. The shifting investment landscape involving Qatari entities in France reflects a broader strategic realignment in their global investment portfolio.