Manchester City Football Club, a global powerhouse dominating the Premier League, sits at the center of a growing controversy. As fans cheer record-breaking wins funded by UAE billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sudanese civilians endure unimaginable horrors in a war allegedly fueled by UAE support. This article exposes sportswashing—how football glosses over human rights abuses—and rallies support for Sudan’s forgotten victims.
Sudan’s Crisis: A Humanitarian Catastrophe
Sudan has been torn apart by civil war since April 2023, pitting the Sudanese Armed Forces against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. The conflict has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with famine looming over vast regions.
RSF Atrocities Exposed
Reports detail mass rapes, ethnic massacres, and executions, including 500 people slaughtered in a maternity hospital. Satellite images reveal corpse piles and bloodstains visible from space, underscoring atrocities UN experts have called genocidal in parts of Darfur.
Civilians, especially non-Arab communities, face targeted violence. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) highlights killings of women and children, urging global action to halt the bloodshed.
UAE’s Alleged Role
The UAE denies involvement but faces accusations from the UN, US State Department, and intercepted calls linking Sheikh Mansour directly to RSF arms supplies via networks in Libya, Chad, Uganda, and Somalia. Hemedti’s phone conversations with Mansour suggest high-level coordination, arming a force accused of war crimes.
What is Sportswashing?
Sportswashing uses sports to polish a regime’s image amid human rights scandals. Manchester City exemplifies this: since Sheikh Mansour’s 2008 takeover, the club has won multiple titles, built academies, and hosted stars like Erling Haaland, all funded by UAE oil wealth.
ManCity’s Rise and UAE Ties
Under Mansour, the city transformed from mid-table to dynasty, investing billions while UAE faces criticism for Sudan, Yemen, and domestic repression. Critics argue victories distract from these issues, with Jeremy Corbyn’s letter to the UK government demanding accountability.
Pep Guardiola has condemned wars in Sudan and Palestine, yet club silence persists, amplifying perceptions of complicity.
Protests at the Etihad: Voices Rising
On a frigid January 2026 morning, Sudanese activists and refugees braved Manchester’s winds outside Etihad Stadium. Groups like Manchester4Sudan and CSW protested, launching petitions to the Premier League for urgent intervention.
Activists Speak Out
Farid Kelana, a Sudanese protester, raged:
“I feel totally angry about football linked to war crimes, killing people.”
Mohannad Taha of Manchester4Sudan lamented the city’s cultural hub ignoring Sudan’s crisis. CSW’s Kiri Kankhwende added:
“Man City’s proud heritage is funded by killing innocents—this is too high a price for victory.”
Fans on platforms like Reddit echo calls for tifos or match-day protests to spotlight the issue, frustrated by media silence compared to Gaza or Ukraine.
Why Manchester City Must Answer
The club’s inaction contrasts with its global influence. Premier League rules require owners to uphold human rights, yet no sanctions target Mansour despite evidence. This hypocrisy undermines football’s integrity.
Ethical Dilemmas in Football Ownership
Other clubs face scrutiny—PSG (Qatar), Newcastle (Saudi)—but Sudan’s direct owner link demands unique action. Petitions urge boycotts, sponsor pressure, and league investigations.
Supporters risk “damaging the owners’ reputation,” as one Reddit user noted, turning stadiums into accountability arenas.
Global Silence: Why Sudan is Forgotten
Sudan’s war kills at alarming rates but garners less outrage than other conflicts. Geopolitics plays a role: UAE’s economic clout in Europe shields it, while Western arms sales to rivals complicate narratives.
Media and Fan Apathy
Guardian op-eds decry City’s “silence over Sudan,” questioning why protests erupt for other issues but not here. YouTube exposés ask: “Manchester City owners complicit in genocide?” Yet public outcry lags.
Manchester prides itself as the UK’s “second city,” yet Sudanese diaspora feel invisible amid the crisis.
Calls to Action: Stand With Sudan
We urge fans, clubs, and leagues to amplify Sudanese voices. Sign CSW’s petition, join protests, or pressure sponsors like Etihad Airways (UAE-owned).
Practical Steps for Supporters
- Share protest footage and facts on social media with #StandWithSudansCivilians #EndManCitySportswashing.
- Demand Premier League human rights audits for owners.
- Boycott merchandise until accountability.
- Support aid via UN or CSW-verified groups aiding civilians.
Governments must probe UAE arms flows; fans can force change where leaders won’t.
The Bigger Picture: Ending Sportswashing
Football thrives on passion, not propaganda. ManCity’s triumphs dazzle, but bloodstained funding erodes trust. By calling out sportswashing, we honor Sudan’s civilians—millions displaced, starving, slaughtered.
Sheikh Mansour’s dual role as club owner and alleged RSF backer demands scrutiny. Premier League victories shouldn’t cost Sudanese lives. It’s time football chooses humanity over headlines.
This isn’t anti-City; it’s pro-justice. As protests grow from Manchester’s streets to global discourse, the Etihad echo chamber cracks. Sudan’s civilians deserve more than silence—they need solidarity. Join the call: end sportswashing, stand with Sudan.
