Newcastle United’s Saudi-led takeover is NOT expected to be revisited by Premier League – despite claims Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ‘controlled the deal’
- Guarantees had been given that Saudi Arabia would not control Newcastle
- But leaked reports suggested that Mohammed bin Salman controlled the takeover
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The Premier League will not re-examine the legality of the Saudi Arabia-led takeover of Newcastle United in light of claims of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s involvement.
In a series of leaked WhatsApp messages from 2020, financier Amanda Staveley told associates of then-Newcastle owner Mike Ashley: ‘The Crown Prince is losing patience – I have to reassure him that we will get there.’
She later sent a message that read: “(Yasir Al-Rumayyan) is trying to stick to the deal and convince the Crown Prince not to withdraw.”
In October 2021, the £305m takeover was signed off after Ashley agreed to the sale and the Premier League received ‘legally binding assurances’ that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – of which Bin Salman is de facto leader – would not control Newcastle.
The country’s public investment fund subsequently took an 80 percent stake. Bin Salman is the chairman of PIF.
The Premier League will not re-examine the legality of the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United in 2021 in light of claims of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s involvement
Leaked messages from Amanda Staveley had suggested that Bin Salman controlled the deal
The WhatsApp messages, revealed this week by The Telegraph, have raised new questions about the political involvement in the deal and whether assurances about the separation between PIF and the Saudi state were respected.
However, Mail Sport understands the Premier League will not be reviewing the matter. They were aware of the interactions at government level at the time, but this did not influence their thinking or decision-making during the process of their Owners’ and Directors’ Test, conducted by the Premier League board.
Staveley has since left Newcastle after selling her stake this summer.
Regarding the messages, her lawyers say she only referred to the Crown Prince in his capacity as PIF chairman and suggested they cast doubt on the separation from the Saudi state and that running the club is “as illogical as it is misconceived” .