The Premier League "needs to re-examine the assurances" it was given about potential Saudi state control of Newcastle United, says human rights group Amnesty International.
Newcastle's takeover by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) was approved after "legally binding assurances" the Saudi government would not have any control over the club.
However, in a US court case Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan has been described as "a sitting minister of the government" with "sovereign immunity".
The statements have been made by lawyers representing LIV Golf, owned by the PIF, which also has a controlling stake in Newcastle.
"It was always stretching credulity to breaking point to imagine that the Saudi state wasn't directing the buyout of Newcastle with the ultimate aim of using the club as a component in its wider sportswashing efforts," said Peter Frankental, Amnesty International's UK economic affairs director.
"There's an unmistakable irony in the sovereign wealth fund declaration emerging in a dispute about another arm of Saudi Arabia's growing sports empire, but the simple fact is that Saudi sportswashing is affecting numerous sports and governing bodies need to respond to it far more effectively.
"The Premier League will surely need to re-examine the assurances made about the non-involvement of the Saudi authorities in the Newcastle deal, not least as there's still a Qatari bid for Manchester United currently on the table."
Who would have thought it🤔
posted on 2/3/23
It will be the same for any Man Utd takeover. It’s being billed as just a rich guy from Qatar who supports Man Utd. But we all know where the money will come from. I hope they don’t get anywhere near us.
posted on 2/3/23
The PL will do fck all. Money talks.
posted on 2/3/23
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 2 hours, 11 minutes ago
The PL will do fck all. Money talks.
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It's been about 40 years since the Al Yamama weapons scandal broke. The Saudi royal family know that they have always had the British government by the balls. And they have always made it a point to pick up the phone to Downing Street and squeeze hard any time we've launched an investigation.
If His Majesty's Government can't stand up to them, the EPL certainly won't.
posted on 2/3/23
You just cannot trust the word of these regimes...whether it is how the Qatar World Cup bid was won, or the human rights of workers on that project, or where Man City's sponsorship money really comes from or the links between the Saudi State and Newcastle there seems to be an attitude amongst these extremely wealthy nations that they can circumvent the rules with very well constructed web of lies protected by an army of lawyers.
This, though, is a massive own goal. To make an explicit statement about the status of an owner and to then contradict that in a lawsuit in the US is a shocker for them and their lawyers heads will roll...probably literally!
posted on 2/3/23
And people need to understand other cultures. Not saying UK is any particular bastion but fairness and following rules are usually values upheld. In some other cultures double crossing, lying, evasion, bribery and more are all perfectly normal and expected behaviours. But most of all, money talks.
posted on 2/3/23
To think more crying was done about Abramovich than these recent takeovers and takeover attempts.
The Saudis are literally taking over sport as a whole, not just football. So many events happening over there, so many different pieces of many different sports being bought by them. It’s a bit mad tbh