Man United owners split on US election support for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump

Manchester United co-owners Avram and Edward Glazer have backed different candidates in the United States presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

Avram, 64, has contributed £2.62m ($3.4m) to Harris and Democratic party-related causes. However, Edward, 54, has donated £1.54m ($2m) to Trump and Republican party-associated causes.

But they are not the only Glazer siblings involved. Darcie Glazer Kassewitz and several of her brothers have also contributed to Gridiron PAC, the NFL's nonpartisan lobbying company, through the family-owned Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Avram's contributions are the most substantial from the family. Six-figure sums totalling £1.35m ($1.75m) before Edward's highest donation - £79,000 ($103,000) to the Republican National Committee - appears on the Federal Election Commission Individual Contributions list.

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The elder Glazer's donations include those to the Harris Victory Fund, the Democratic National Committee, and the Iowa Democratic Party. According to the same data, Edward supported Ron DeSantis, a one-time challenger to Trump, with donations totalling £8,930 ($11,600) since the start of last year.

However, the Glazers are far from the only Premier League owners who have backed a US political party. Bournemouth's owner, Bill Foley, is a significant supporter of Trump, contributing six-figure sums to groups affiliated with the former president this year.

Todd Boehly, the face of Chelsea's ownership, has backed Patrick McHenry, a Republican US House of Representatives member, in his re-election campaign. Incoming Everton owner Dan Friedkin has also contributed to the Automotive Free International Trade PAC, which gives 90% of its funds to Republicans.

"Support for Trump is interesting because his election manifesto clearly revolves around imposing trade sanctions on imported goods," says Professor Simon Chadwick, a global sports business expert, speaking to City AM. "This could potentially apply to Premier League products – whether that's broadcasting content, merchandise or otherwise – which would weaken its competitive position in the US and push local fans towards American sports."

He adds: "For people like Foley and Boehly, it suggests that football is far less important to them than their other, broader business and personal interests. As for Avram Glazer, if there's a connection to be made between his political preferences and his football club ownership, it is that Manchester United is more likely to see populations in big cities and conurbations being their target audiences, rather than rural areas of the US."