New evidence suggests Saudi state was involved in Newcastle deal

Premier League clubs are once again raising questions over the previous 2021 takeover of Newcastle. The Magpies changed hands three years ago after Mike Ashley offloaded the team to a consortium led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). The Middle Eastern group paid nearly $400 million for an 80% stake in the club.

Fellow English top-flight teams attempted to block the deal because of direct ties between PIF and the Saudi state. The Premier League, however, sanctioned the purchase after receiving “legally binding assurances” that the Saudi state would not have control over the team.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters then tried to limit worries over the deal weeks after it was completed. Masters claimed that there was a “corporate difference” between PIF and the Saudi state. He also attempted to ease concerns by claiming that the division has the power to “remove the consortium as owners of the club” should they “find any evidence to the contrary.”

WhatsApp messages leave egg on the face of Premier League officials

New evidence now suggests that Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, controlled the 2021 takeover of Newcastle. This is according to leaked WhatsApp messages from former Magpies director Amanda Staveley. The British businesswoman officially brokered the deal between Ashley and PIF. She recently departed the club after selling her minority shares.

The messages obtained by The Telegraph highlight Salman’s direct involvement in the deal. The Saudi Prince even personally signed off on key decisions during the takeover.

As Ashley and PIF were in the negotiation phase, Staveley attempted to push the deal along via WhatsApp. The businesswoman informed the sellers that “the Crown Prince is losing patience” in the pending deal and that the governor of PIF was “trying to… convince the Crown Prince not to pull out.”

Staveley then received help from the Saudi ambassador to the…

Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/new-evidence-suggests-saudi-state-was-involved-in-newcastle-deal/

Author : Chris Moore

Publish date : 2024-10-23 19:34:38

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