American businessman John W Henry is feeling the wrath of both Boston Red Sox and Liverpool fans as they continue to lose patience with their owners.
Henry co-founded New England Sports Ventures in 2001, before it later became Fenway Sports Group eight years later. FSG has the Red Sox, Liverpool and Pittsburgh Penguins under their ownership, but although they're across different sports, all fans are beginning to feel the same way.
A lack of spending to help bolster the teams is causing fans to turn on Henry and FSG, and the owner was booed by thousands of Red Sox fans when speaking this week. Henry attended a panel discussion on Friday, but when defending their actions, the Red Sox fans let their feelings known.
Frustration has built up amongst Red Sox fans for a number of years, and after a poor season they are desperate for investment. But, when Xander Bogaerts was allowed to walk away this winter, it didn't go down well.
The Red Sox did re-sign Rafael Devers, but it wasn't enough to please the fans as it doesn't make up for their recent history, or latest trade decisions. Across the pond in Liverpool, it's been a wild ride over the past eight years, winning everything there is to win under Jurgen Klopp.
However, Liverpool have slumped this season, and fans are irate due to the fact the owners appear to have settled rather than continue to strengthen. Liverpool did sign Cody Gakpo from PSV this month, but their problem area remains in the midfield and due to it being an expensive fix, fans are concerned that FSG are not willing to dip into their pockets.
Henry hasn't been popular in Liverpool for some time after the attempted European Super League breakaway, but he's facing the same backlash from those in America now too. As he took to the stage on Friday there were continuous boos, and it only got worse when he tried to defend his decisions.
The disastrous trade of Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers started things off in 2020, and Henry hasn't appeared in a public address since. But after Bogaerts walked, the feeling was still raw as he spoke on stage in front of an angry group of Red Sox fans.
Fans have been accusing the owners of thinking about their own pockets rather than what's best for the team, something that's beginning to shared amongst Liverpool fans too. FSG have a lot on their plate due to the amount of teams they own, and building infrastructure around them and boosting their commercial draw has never been something they've shied away from. But fans just want to see their teams do well, and faith in FSG is at an all-time low.
