Does Uncle Sam now sponsor Manchester United?

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Remember the logo adorning Manchester United’s red jerseys? That’s right: AIG. Sponsorship of the legendary British soccer team, these days worth about £67 million (down from £75 million last year, thanks again to the credit crunch), belongs to the beleaguered insurance company. That means it now, sort of, belongs to the United ...

By , International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Colombia.
592369_080925_ronaldo5.jpg
592369_080925_ronaldo5.jpg

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Remember the logo adorning Manchester United’s red jerseys? That’s right: AIG. Sponsorship of the legendary British soccer team, these days worth about £67 million (down from £75 million last year, thanks again to the credit crunch), belongs to the beleaguered insurance company. That means it now, sort of, belongs to the United States’ taxpayers?

Ever since Tony Blair was portrayed as George W. Bush’s second coming during his support for the Iraq war, many Britons resented American influence on their country’s politics. But this kind-of sponsorship of the flagship football team might just cross the line.

Apparently, Manchester supporters are pragmatists. Oh well! say most fans on RedCafe.net, a Manchester United forum where the topic was heatedly debated. Rather than sweat the details, they had far more fun imagining a new look for the team.

Elizabeth Dickinson is International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Colombia.

More from Foreign Policy

Keri Russell as Kate Wyler walks by a State Department Seal from a scene in The Diplomat, a new Netflix show about the foreign service.
Keri Russell as Kate Wyler walks by a State Department Seal from a scene in The Diplomat, a new Netflix show about the foreign service.

At Long Last, the Foreign Service Gets the Netflix Treatment

Keri Russell gets Drexel furniture but no Senate confirmation hearing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron speak in the garden of the governor of Guangdong's residence in Guangzhou, China, on April 7.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron speak in the garden of the governor of Guangdong's residence in Guangzhou, China, on April 7.

How Macron Is Blocking EU Strategy on Russia and China

As a strategic consensus emerges in Europe, France is in the way.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin greets U.S. President George W. Bush prior to a meeting of APEC leaders in 2001.
Chinese President Jiang Zemin greets U.S. President George W. Bush prior to a meeting of APEC leaders in 2001.

What the Bush-Obama China Memos Reveal

Newly declassified documents contain important lessons for U.S. China policy.

A girl stands atop a destroyed Russian tank.
A girl stands atop a destroyed Russian tank.

Russia’s Boom Business Goes Bust

Moscow’s arms exports have fallen to levels not seen since the Soviet Union’s collapse.