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UAE’s Al Fursan, led by Sheikh Ahmad bin Faisal Al Qasimi, acquired Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters FC from Magnum Group.
Kerala Blasters FC (Yellow) celebrates after scoring a goal against FC Pune City during the match of the 3rd season of Indian Super League ( ISL) 2016 in Kochi on Friday. PTI Photo (PTI11_25_2016_000305B)
UAE-based sports and sports-tech consortium Al Fursan, led by Sheikh Ahmad bin Faisal Al Qasimi, has announced the acquisition of Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters FC from Magnum Group.
Under the agreement, Al Fursan will acquire 100 per cent ownership of the club in phases over eight months, with the transition expected to be completed towards the end of the 2026-27 season.
Kerala Blasters CEO Abhik Chatterjee described the change as an important moment in the club’s history and thanked the previous owners, players, coaches, staff and supporters for their contribution.
The new ownership will assume responsibility from the 2026-27 season, with preparations already underway. Players and staff have been shortlisted, while further announcements on signings are expected soon.
Ashley Westwood will continue as Kerala Blasters’ head coach for the 2026-27 season, with pre-season training scheduled to begin at the FC Madras facility in Mahabalipuram on Wednesday.
Al Fursan said its immediate focus was to provide the football department with the structure and resources needed for the new season.
Money and sports washing concerns go hand in hand
The fans of the Blasters can’t be blamed for being excited about the prospects of this change. Massive financial investments by West Asian states have transformed modern football by injecting unprecedented capital into the sport.
This influx of wealth enables the rapid development of state-of-the-art stadiums, elite training facilities, and global sports medicine hubs. For European clubs acquired by sovereign wealth funds, like Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Newcastle United, this backing guarantees stability and the ability to attract top-tier global talent.
The UAE consortium would have certainly felt a connection with the Malyali community and realised the power of the fandom in Kerala. However, this Middle East financial boom is overshadowed by accusations of sportswashing, i.e., nations using sports investments to launder their global reputation and distract from human rights abuses.
The same worries marred the City Group’s long stint with Mumbai City FC. Sheikh Ahmed bin Faisal Al Qasimi is a member of the Al Qasimi ruling family of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, and would need to allay these concerns, as they aim to promote the Blasters.
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Ask News18The UAE-based sports and sports-tech consortium Al Fursan, led by Sheikh Ahmad bin Faisal Al Qasimi, has acquired the Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters FC from Magnum Group.
Ask News18September 29, 2026, 11:03 PM IST
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