Newcastle supporters welcome Saudi takeover

NEWCASTLE − The Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) today welcomed the news that the way now appears clear for a Saudi Arabian-backed takeover of the English football club.

While there have been concerns raised over human rights issues, supporters have said these should be addressed by the Premier League.

Qatar-based broadcaster, beIN Sports, said yesterday that Saudi Arabia will soon lift a ban on it, removing a key obstacle behind the collapsed takeover of Newcastle by the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund (PIF).

beIN holds the rights to broadcast the Premier League across the Middle East, but Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Competition (GAC) suspended its channels in 2017 and “permanently cancelled” the broadcaster's licence last year amid a bitter dispute between Riyadh and Doha, which was resolved in January.

Saudi Arabia's response to cases of unauthorised broadcasting of Premier League games in the country was a key issue raised by critics of a proposed £305 million (RM1.73 bil) bid from the PIF, PCP Capital Partners and Reuben Brothers to buy Newcastle United from British businessman, Mike Ashley, in April 2020.

beIN, which counts Saudi Arabia as its biggest market in the region, said yesterday that the kingdom's ban was the TV channel's “singular objection” to the Newcastle takeover.

Mike initiated legal proceedings against the Premier League earlier this year over the aborted takeover attempt, but they have been adjourned until early 2022.

Although there are now no commercial objections to the deal, human rights groups have questioned whether Saudi money should be used to buy the club.

The Gulf state was widely condemned in 2018 when Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, was murdered in its consulate in Istanbul, and has faced criticism over its treatment of women.

Charlotte Robson of NUST admitted the issue was a difficult one to address as a supporters' group, but said it was up to the Premier League to decide whether the sale should go ahead.

“The record, as far as we understand it in Saudi Arabia, is not good. I think it's vastly unfair to put it on your average football fan, who just wants their club to do really well,” she said via Zoom today. – Reuters, October 7, 2021