Last night, it’s fair to say the anxiety levels of Newcastle United fans went through the roof after BeIN Sports sent a big threat to the Premier League regarding the Saudis potential £300m arrival.
The deal is currently with the Premier League, with a deal looking all set to go through providing they pass their owners and directors test.
That said, serious last-ditch complaints lodged by Amnesty International and BeIN Sports have made some fear this deal isn’t quite as ‘imminent’ anymore, with the latter revealing how the Saudi government are yet to deal with unresolved piracy issues that have cost them millions.
Thankfully, TWO promising updates have emerged today regarding the likelihood of a takeover going through in light of both objections.
Firstly, it’s emerged that the UK Government will NOT be intervening to stop any Saudi takeover, with this coming from Britain’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden today (and also being backed up by the Telegraph’s chief writer Jason Burt)
This then poses the question, if the country’s own government don’t see any reason to intervene and seem happy for it to go ahead, are the Premier League really going to get in the way?
It all comes down to the owners and directors test, which assesses the credibility of the individuals behind the Saudi-backed takeover, but this is where the SECOND bit of promising news comes in.
Here’s what the New York Times’ Tariq Panja has said, with him saying the deal will NOT be prevented by the Premier League:
So, if the Government aren’t going to stop it and there’s a strong belief the Premier League won’t (or that the would-be owners won’t fail the PL director and owners test), it feels like we may not have a great deal to worry about after all.
In addition, the Independent have also released a report this afternoon stating the takeover is expected to be completed and ‘formally announced’ by the 1st of May.
Who knows how this will pan out, but these initial responses to BeIN Sports’ big complaint seem highly promising, with the Premier League CEO’s letter back to Amnesty international also being described as a “polite ‘go away'”.
Saudi Arabia are allowed to play in all international competitions by FIFA because they keep politics and sport separate as do the premier league. Sport is sport and politics is for governments to sort out NOT football supporters
Bob(Quote)
After comments made over the air by Keys & Gray live on Sky got them the sack, they walked into there positions with Bien Sports which tells us what kind company they are and for Sky to continue to deal with them is hypocrisy at its worst.
He ( Keys) is also using his position to wage his war against Newcastle United and its supporters for what ever reason which can’t be right, he is clearly heard saying ” anybody but Newcastle ” so in truth it’s got nothing to do with the Saudies turning a blind eye to pirate broadcasts it’s his personal vendetta against us which Bien Sports is allowing, the man should be sacked and made to spend a Friday night in the Big Market.
Saudi Arabia spend millions with the UK in trade we sell them arms along with anything else they want so why not a football club surely it is better to trade and discuss issues we may have with a country than ban and isolate them as Amnesty Int. is attempting to do we all know where that leads.
MICHAEL REYNOLDS(Quote)
A well argued and worrying article in The Mirror this morning regarding the Saudis involvement in the industrial piracy of world sporting events, including the Premiership.
I’m not nearly as confident that the proposed takeover is a done deal as I was, but I’m hanging on to the hope that, usually in international business, money talks.
Like most, I’ve for everything crossed that this will happen, but this is NUFC and nothing is ever straightforward.
Maxneeodz(Quote)
my main worry is that ashley is behind keyes and his mob and is going to pullout at the last minute.
john marshall(Quote)
Well if he did……he would be lynched and any small amount of support he had with NUFC supporters would be flushed away
rosco(Quote)
I honestly couldn’t care less about their human rights record, As long as they run the club the way it is meant to be run! As for the premier League test if Mike Ashley can pass it then anyone can!
GEORDIEJOHN1982(Quote)