Prem told to 're-examine' Newcastle takeover

The Premier League should re-examine assurances received from Newcastle United's Saudi owners that the Middle East authorities would not person power of the nine successful the aftermath of a tribunal papers filed successful the U.S., Amnesty International said connected Thursday.

Newcastle's takeover by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) was rubber-stamped successful October 2021 aft "legally binding assurances" that the Saudi authorities would person nary power of the north-east club.

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However, a U.S. tribunal lawsuit concerning the PGA Tour and LIV play this week described Newcastle president and PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan arsenic a "sitting curate of the government," casting uncertainty connected the independency of the club's ownership.

"The Premier League volition surely request to re-examine the assurances made astir the non-involvement of the Saudi authorities successful the Newcastle deal, not slightest arsenic there's inactive a Qatari bid for Manchester United presently connected the table," said Peter Frankental, Amnesty's UK economical affairs director.

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, a subordinate of the Qatar royal family, is fronting 1 of the 2 groups who are seeking a afloat takeover of Manchester United.

The little filed successful the PGA Tour lawsuit against LIV Golf described the Public Investment Fund arsenic "a sovereign instrumentality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

PIF is chaired by Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Six of the different 8 committee members are Saudi authorities ministers, according to PIF's website, portion 1 is Advisor astatine the Royal Court and Al Rumayyan is Governor of the PIF.

"It was ever stretching credulity to breaking constituent to ideate that the Saudi authorities wasn't directing the buyout of Newcastle with the eventual purpose of utilizing the nine arsenic a constituent successful its wider sportswashing efforts," Amnesty's Frankental was quoted arsenic saying by the BBC.

"There's an unmistakable irony successful the sovereign wealthiness money declaration emerging successful a quality astir different limb of Saudi Arabia's increasing sports empire, but the elemental information is that Saudi sportswashing is affecting galore sports and governing bodies request to respond to it acold much effectively."

LIV Golf and the PGA Tour person been successful litigation since respective LIV players filed national antitrust lawsuits past August.

The statement of Al-Rumayyan arsenic a sitting curate of authorities came from lawyers representing LIV Golf, which is owned by the PIF.

Neither Newcastle, the Premier League, nor the PIF instantly responded to requests for comment.