NEWCASTLE’S £300million Saudi Arabia-funded takeover faces further delays after the Premier League received new documents over piracy accusations.
The evidence is claimed to establish a clear link between the Saudi state and a pirate TV service which streams sporting events illegally.
Mohammad Bin Salman’s Saudi Investment Fund has faced questions ahead of the proposed takeover of NewcastleCredit: AP:Associated Press
Prospective minority shareholder Amanda Staveley is confident of the deal going throughCredit: PA:Press Association
Prem lawyers are understood to be scrutinising the information, which could push back a decision over the takeover.
Toon fans have been waiting anxiously for the league to give the green light to end Mike Ashley’s 13-year reign on Tyneside.
The takeover is being headed by Brit financier Amanda Staveley, who remains confident they will not fall foul of the owners’ and directors’ tests.
But the documents are just the latest to potentially throw a spanner in the works.
The prospective Saudi owners, which include Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, have previously denied any link to piracy on the BeoutQ platform, previously claiming it originated in Colombia and Cuba.
The Premier League’s test says potential owners must not provide “false, misleading or inaccurate information” and prohibits digital piracy.
The Premier League, Fifa, Uefa and LaLiga have all tried to take legal action to shut down the piracy operation.
Last month Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Sports, which shows Prem games across the region, demanded the league consider blocking the deal.
They highlighted Saudi Arabia’s role in BeoutQ’s “illegal actions and their direct impact upon the commercial interests of the Premier League”.
In January the European Commission named Saudi Arabia in a report for its failure to crack down on the platform.
And the Gulf state remains on a US government ‘Priority Watch List’ as one of the “notorious markets for counterfeiting and piracy”.
The Premier League refused to comment when contacted by SunSport.
Mike Ashley agrees knockdown £300m deal with Saudi consortium to finally sell Newcastle
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
