On Thursday, Newcastle United announced that the club’s takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Private Investment Fund, PCP Capital Partners and R&B Media was finally completed. Despite the Premier League receiving legal confirmation that the Saudi State will not be involved in the running of the club, other clubs have their complaints over it.
The official press release clearly states that it will not be the Saudi State, but Saudi’s PIF that will manage the club, which was the exact thing reiterated by Amanda Staveley, the Chief Executive of PCP Capital Partners.
She mentions that this is not a case of “Sportswashing” by the Saudi state, but just an intention to buy a brilliant football club and run it.
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However, some incidents from the past have raised a human rights angle in this takeover, that involves the chair of Newcastle’s 80% owners, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Some reports from Western Intelligence concluded that he had ordered the assassination of Jamal Kashoggi, the Saudi journalist, an allegation denied by the prince.
The clubs are also irritated by the sudden breakout of the news. When the PIF tried to complete Newcastle’s take over last year, it was the objection of the other Premier League clubs that played a major role.
The other 19 Premier League clubs are united on the front that they should’ve been kept informed throughout the procession. They are also keen on knowing what changed over the course of time that allowed the takeover to be completed.
A major chunk of Newcastle United fans are elated with the news of this takeover and gathered in front of the St. James’ Park a couple of days ago to celebrate.
The new owners are set to make an immediate investment in human resources, with some players being targeted in the January window to ensure the club doesn’t get relegated.
Meanwhile, reports claim that the current boss Steve Bruce’s job is hanging by a thread, and if a suitable replacement is found, the former Manchester United player will be sacked. Rangers’ manager Steven Gerrard and two former Chelsea bosses in Frank Lampard and Antonio Conte, who are currently not employed, are on Newcastle’s.
