Marathe is president of 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of NFL side the San Francisco 49ers, which increased its stake in Leeds United to 37% earlier this year. Three of the so-called 'Big Six' Premier League clubs that tried and failed to launch the ESL are US-owned. But Marathe moved to reassure Leeds Utd fans, saying that he was "disappointed" by the attempted breakaway, and that the 49ers' plans were "pure". "Leeds is part of my blood now… I hope supporters will start to see that and I can earn their trust." When asked how he felt about the rebel clubs, Marathe said, "20 years ago, two or three of those 'big six' were in the bottom six.

Source: BBC May 20, 2021 16:04 UTC