Top-flight premier League clubs have complained to the league after it cleared the £305m Newcastle United takeover by a Saudi Arabian-backed group.
It is understood there are frustrations and irritation from all 19 Premier League clubs concerning how the deal between the Premier League and the new Newcastle United owners passed the directors’ test.
Concerns also arose as to why they were not kept informed after the surprise news emerged on Wednesday. Additionally, there are worries as to how Saudi Arabian owners will reflect on the League itself as there are many human rights issues linked to the kingdom.
Consequently, there are concerns that the Premier League could be damaged by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund taking an 80% stake in Newcastle although eyebrows will be raised at this given the identity of other owners in the division. The deal has been fiercely criticized by human right groups, especially as PIF-the state’s sovereign wealth funs-is overseen by Crown Price Mohammed bin Salman.
The arrival of the new set of billionaire owners is bound to have upset clubs who see on the horizon a far more competitive Newcastle and the prospects of St James’ Park wealth inflating transfer fees and wages.
Henceforth, the clubs are demanding a meeting with the Premier League which has previously said the takeover process would remain confidential as legality prevented the sharing of Newcastle developments. Furthermore, the league board’s nominated powers over the owners’ and directors’ test were endorsed after a vote among the clubs.
When approving the takeover on Thursday, the Premier League said it has received legal assurances from the new Newcastle owners that the Saudi state would not control the club and there would be punishments if it was proven otherwise.
As so, the Newcastle takeover has also drawn reaction from the political arena. Labor, while arguing that the deal will “trouble many fans” has not called for it to be paused and is instead demanding a new system of regulation as soon as possible most likely based on the ongoing review into football governance led by the Tory MP and former sports minister Tracey Crouch.