By Samindra Kunti
December 29 – The Sultanate of Oman is set to become a majority shareholder in Belgian Jupiler Pro League club Mouscron-Peruwelz. As a result, French club Lille OSC will end its partnership with the Belgian club.
Lille OSC is a majority shareholder in Mouscron-Péruwelz and the Belgian club has acted as a feeder club since 2011. This season Mouscron returned to the Belgian top-flight and is currently sitting in 11th place in the 16-team division.
In November both clubs announced that they will part ways. Belgian businessman Marc Coucke was the main reason for the split. He holds a five percent share in the Ligue 1 club, but is also chairman and majority shareholder at Belgian pro league club KV Oostende. Coucke’s connections constituted a conflict of interests.
Lille OSC has found a surprising investor with the Sultanate of Oman. Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said rules Oman as an absolute monarchy. His net worth is estimated at $700 million.
Mouscron-Péruwelz has not opposed the newly proposed investor.
“The state of Oman will have the majority in the hands, but we retain ownership of our stadium and our training and accommodation facilities,” said Mouscron chairman Edward Van Daele. Oman will pay a reported fee of $3 million to complete the acquisition.
“We have made every effort to secure the future of our club,” said Van Daele. “Mouscron-Péruwelz is ready and organised to finalise the takeover in late January.”
Van Daele welcomes the cash injection and does not doubt Oman’s motives. “Why Oman invests in us?” said Van Daele. “The results of Belgium at the World Cup have certainly had their influence. There is quality present in the Jupiler Pro League and our club is not so expensive.”
Mouscron-Péruwelz will become the second Belgian club in the hands of Gulf owners. In 2012 Qatar’s Aspire Zone Foundation became the majority shareholder in second division club Eupen.
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