Newcastle Takeover: New controversies have appeared regarding the Saudi’s takeover of Newcastle United back in 2021. In a court case that’s going on in the US, lawyers of the now controlling stakeholders of Newcastle, Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have put some documents that say that Yasir Al Rumayyan is a sitting minister of the Saudi government. This statement directly contradicts the statement they gave while taking over Newcastle United 2 years ago. Hence, the investment makes a government takeover of a PL club. Follow Premier League LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Newcastle Takeover: Honeymoon over in Magpies camp, Premier League under PRESSURE to probe Saudi’s Takeover after US Court makes BIG REVEAL – Check Out
PIF is fighting a court case regarding the Saudi-funded LIV tour against PGA. In this case, as PIF was trying to avoid providing certain evidence, their lawyers specifically said to the court:
“The PIF and His Excellency Yasir Othman Al Rumayyan are not ordinary third parties subject to basic discovery relevance standards. They are a sovereign instrumentality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a sitting minister of the Saudi government, and they cannot be compelled to provide testimony.”
This did not go well with the court judge, Susan van Kaplan and she ruled in the favor of PGA.
During the Newcastle takeover in 2021, it was clearly dictated by the Premier League authorities that the Saudi state will not control any part of Newcastle United. The Saudis even withdrew their bid in 2020 as the process was taking too long. However the deal was again revived by the Premier League authorities. Premier League’s chief executive, Richard Masters said that they received legally binding documents that specifically said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would have no control over Newcastle United.
Newcastle Takeover: Honeymoon over in Magpies camp, Premier League under PRESSURE to probe Saudi’s Takeover after US Court makes BIG REVEAL – Check Out
So, this is strange. In the US PIF and its governor Yasir al Rumayyan tried to claim sovereign immunity, arguing they were shielded because they are part of a foreign govt. Precisely the opposite argument used to convince the Premier League to rubber stamp Newcastle sale. pic.twitter.com/cqm57JXv3q
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) February 17, 2023
However, at that time, Richards Masters also said, “If we find evidence to the contrary we can remove the consortium as owners of the club in accordance with the rules. That is understood. There are ways of ensuring we are comfortable and satisfied and that remains the case.”
The chairman of PIF is the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Additionally, the official website of PIF lists 8 board members other than the crown prince. All these members except Yasir Al Rumayyan are listed as sitting ministers of the Saudi government. Neither Amanda Staveley, Newcastle’s director, nor the PIF or Premier League authorities have yet commented on the subject.
Newcastle Takeover: Honeymoon over in Magpies camp, Premier League under PRESSURE to probe Saudi’s Takeover after US Court makes BIG REVEAL – Check Out
The case has become of utmost importance as Qatari investors have come forward to bid on Manchester United in recent times. A close source of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Qatari businessman who’s bidding for Manchester United has said that they are taking no help from the Saudi state and bidding on their own.
Authorities from another rival club have said, “This looks like a complete reversal of the position we were told was the reason the deal was approved. Surely the Premier League has to get involved here and look at this issue again.”
The human rights group Amnesty International has also started taking interest in the matter. The economic affairs director of Amnesty, Peter Frankentalhave has said:
“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 sports washing efforts. 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.”
Newcastle Takeover: Honeymoon over in Magpies camp, Premier League under PRESSURE to probe Saudi’s Takeover after US Court makes BIG REVEAL – Check Out
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