THE Premier League is under pressure to re-investigate Newcastle’s takeover after US court revelations that the club’s owner is part of the Saudi government.
Prem bosses gave permission for the controversial £300million takeover in October 2021 after insisting they had “legally binding assurances” that the Saudi government did not control the club.
But those pledges were thrown into doubt after stunning revelations in a US court case in the bitter golf battle between the Saudi-funded LIV Tour and the PGA.
In a bid to avoid giving evidence, lawyers for Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and the Saudi Public Investment Fund admitted their clients were representatives of the Saudi government.
LIV lawyers said: “PIF and His Excellency Yasir al-Rumayyan are not ordinary third parties subject to basic discovery relevance standards.
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“They are a sovereign instrumentality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a sitting minister of the Saudi government.
“Thus they cannot be compelled to provide testimony and documents in a US proceeding.”
Those arguments failed to impress Judge Susan van Kaplan, who ruled in favour of the PGA and ordered the Saudis to give a sworn deposition testimony.
But more critically it appears that LIV’s legal team were making claims that run diametrically opposite to those made to justify the Prem allowing the Newcastle deal to take place.
It has sparked anger from Prem rivals who are furious that the Prem failed to block the deal in the first place.
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As part of the final discussions between Prem bosses and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, concerns were raised over “which entities would own and/or have the ability to control the club” before the ownership guarantees were given.
But at the time Prem chief executive Richard Masters also insisted: “If we find evidence to the contrary we can remove the consortium as owners of the club in accordance with the rules.
“That is understood. There are ways of ensuring we are comfortable and satisfied and that remains the case.”
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Masters will now face calls from rival Prem clubs to rule on whether he must intervene following the legal moves in a court in California.
Rival club chiefs reacted with disbelief and anger and are now expecting Masters and Prem bosses to act.
One club boss said: “This looks like a complete reversal of the position we were told was the reason the deal was approved.
“Surely the Premier League has to get involved here and look at this issue again.”
A Prem spokesman last night declined to make any comment when asked to respond to the latest development.
But the demands for action will concern Newcastle fans just days after their first cup final in 24 years - Sunday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester United.
The Toon board gave a public show of “gratitude” in an open letter to fans, many of whom helped clean up Trafalgar Square after gathering there before the match.
The board said: “The scenes around Wembley and inside the stadium on Sunday were remarkable and beyond inspiring.
“We could not have asked for any more from you. That connection and sense of family is part of our identity.
“Our ambitions are strengthened by this experience and it will only make us even more determined as we move forward.”
