Ant and Dec ‘were told to promote Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian takeover’ on social media – as report claims leaked WhatsApps from Amanda Staveley point to their involvement
Ant and Dec reportedly helped promote the takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
The Tyneside treasures were asked to promote an article about the opposition to the Premier League’s failure to clear the takeover of the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
In WhatsApp messages The Telegraph As they saw it, former Magpies director Amanda Staveley promised Ant and Dec would ‘push’ the article – and within four minutes they had shared it on Twitter.
The article from October 2020 from the Shields Gazette was about a supporters group claiming that the Premier League was breaching UK anti-competition law by delaying the takeover.
According to The TelegraphTwo days later, Ant and Dec’s account on the platform, now called X, shared another article from the same publication answering questions about the progress of the acquisition.
And and Dec was reportedly asked to share an article about support for the Saudi Arabian takeover of Newcastle – and their Twitter account was obliged within four minutes
Ex-Toon director Amanda Staveley reportedly said they would ‘push’ an article on the subject
In the summer of 2020, the Premier League refused to approve the takeover, which involved a consortium backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), amid concerns over links with the Saudi state.
The deal was initially halted in the summer of 2020 when the group failed to broker a separation between itself and the Saudi state, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
A petition was launched calling on the Premier League to explain their reasons for delaying the takeover, after Mike Ashley accepted a £300 million offer from a consortium made up of Saudi Arabia’s PIF, the Reuben Brothers and Staveley.
Premier League CEO Richard Masters was personally attacked and his home address circulated on online fan forums.
The dispute concerned the completion of a key Premier League form in the owners and directors test regarding control and ownership of the club – and the 80 percent stake in the club that would rest with Saudi Arabia.
Premier League leaders wanted to make clear the link between the Saudi Arabian state and Newcastle, but were met with resistance.
An offer to submit the issue to arbitration to break the impasse was also rejected before the consortium announced its withdrawal.
Mike Ashley’s 14-year reign as Newcastle owner has come to an end with a £305m takeover
Fans gathered to celebrate outside St James’ Park in 2021 as the takeover was confirmed
The £305 million takeover was finally completed in September 2021 after the consortium provided sufficient evidence that the Saudi state would have no control over the club, and they passed the test of the Premier League’s owners and directors.
Mail Sport has contacted representatives for Ant and Dec, also known as Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.