Sheffield United’s former owner had a bizarre way of watching every Blades game | OneFootball

The bizarre way in which former owner Prince Abdullah opted to watch Sheffield United games.

Sheffield United have experienced a rollercoaster decade or so, much of it brought about by former owner Prince Abdullah - who had a bizarre relationship with the club.

Sheffield United have endured a turbulent time of it with a couple of promotions to the Premier League, as well as a couple of relegations, having started out the 2016-17 season as low down as League One.

The Blades have finished as high as eighth in the top-flight in the last ten years but it has rarely been plain sailing with Chris Wilder in his third stint in charge of the club during that time.

At the heart of the chaos, and the entertainment, is former owner Prince Abdullah and his bizarre relationship with the club that was criticised by Kevin McCabe.

Prince Abdullah preferred to watch Sheffield United at home in silence

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During their prolonged dispute, Kevin McCabe criticised Prince Abdullah for rarely if ever visiting Bramall Lane or ever watching Sheffield United.

Rather than disputing the claim that he had only ever been to four Sheffield United matches, Prince Abdullah instead opted to defend his decision and explain the bizarre reason as to why.

The Saudi Prince said he preferred to watch The Blades alone and with the television muted - but that he did still watch every game, just not in the ground as he wasn't fond of it.

Prince Abdullah said: "If my team wins, I play the game again with the commentary.

"But if we lose, no one can talk to me. I do not want the game to be even mentioned.

"I hate to be told, ‘Tough luck’. Forget it. I cannot even take the commentator saying anything bad about my team. I also swear a lot.”

The rocky relationship of Prince Abdullah at Sheffield United

Kevin McCabe, of whom Prince Abdullah completed a controversial full takeover of the club in the late-2010's, having previously owned 50% of McCabe's Blades Leisure Ltd, was heavily critical of Prince Abdullah.

Attempting to oust the Saudi Arabian from the club, McCabe instead lost the club in a 'roulette notice' that saw Prince Abdullah take full ownership a few years after they first became involved.

McCabe suggested Prince Abdullah's aversion to watching Sheffield United in person was evidence of his lack of suitability to the role as owner.

However, whether it is to be believed or not, the defence of Prince Abdullah is to suggest he perhaps cared too much about United and their outcome - rather than too little or not at all.

The new era at Sheffield United

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Following the controversial reign of Prince Abdullah, which had seen them set all kinds of unwanted record during their 2023-24 Premier League relegation campaign, COH Sports took over the club in December 2024.

The American consortium, led by Steven Rosen and Helmy Elkouthy, have hardly steadied the ship, though, with a points deduction in the 2026-27 campaign still a live possibility.

That is because they did not contest a winding-up petition against COH Sports for a £35 million unpaid debt to Prince Abdullah in August 2026.

Financial difficulties have limited their business in the summer transfer window, too, and the endless psychodrama of the behind the scenes goings on at Bramall Lane remain relentless.

Sheffield United supporters may well feel as though the club simply needs to settle down and the ownership of Prince Abdullah has created the precarious situation that they now find themselves in.

What has been the case, though, and remains true is that for the rights and wrongs of the last decade, it has not been a boring time of it for Blades supporters and the topsy turvy nature of a football fan is almost entirely represented in the rise, fall and now potential malaise of United.