TV SUPERSTARS Ant and Dec allegedly helped to promote the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s Newcastle United takeover.
But the Premier League will not look into the legality of the £305m deals amid fresh claims over the involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Geordie duo Ant and Dec were reportedly asked to share an article from the Shields Gazette in October 2020 about opposition to the Premier League failing to approve the PIF buy-out.
The Telegraph have claimed to have seen WhatsApp messages from ex-Newcastle director Amanda Staveley that promised the multi-award winning big screen pair would ‘push’ the piece.
Ant and Dec then shared the article on Twitter within four minutes.
The Shields Gazette had written about a supporters’ group who were claiming that by delaying the takeover the Premier League was acting against UK anti-competition law.
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This investigation by The Telegraph then states that Ant and Dec shared another article from the same publication two days later regarding the progress of the takeover and that answered questions on it.
The Premier League had refused to sanction the takeover earlier that summer due to concerns about the consortium, which was backed by PIF, and their links to the Saudi state.
That led to the bid initially being abandoned due to them not being able to provide separation between themselves and the Saudi state, which is led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
That led to a petition that called on Prem chiefs to explain their reasons for delaying the takeover of the consortium that was made up of the Saudi Arabian PIF, the Reuben Brothers, and Staveley.
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Things turned nasty when Premier League chief executive Richard Masters came under a personal attack and had his home address shared on fan forums online.
The main sticking point and hold up was with regards to the completion of a key Premier League form in the owners and directors test about club control and ownership.
In particular, the residing of the 80 per cent stake in the club in Saudi.
Top-flight bosses wanted to make the link between the Saudi Arabian state and Newcastle open but it was met by resistance and, after an offer to place the issue in arbitration was also rejected, the consortium pulled out.
However, over a year later in September 2021 the £305m takeover was completed after proof that the Saudi state would not actually be in control of the North East club was provided and the Premier League owners’ and directors’ test was passed.
Sun Sport have approached Ant and Dec, otherwise known as Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, for comment.
Meanwhile, in the series of leaked WhatsApp messages, Staveley is said to have written to associates of the then Toon owner Mike Ashley: “The Crown Prince is losing patience – I need to assure him we will get there.”
A further message then read: “(Yasir Al-Rumayyan) is trying to hang on to the deal and convince the Crown Prince not to pull out.”
The messages raised questions over the political involvement in the deal but Sun Sport understands that the Premier League will not look into the matter as they were satisfied that the government interactions they were aware of at that time did not influence their decision in the Owners’ and Directors’ Test.
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The lawyers of Staveley, who sold her stake in Newcastle this summer, say that she only referenced the Crown Prince in his capacity as PIF chairman.
They added that any suggestions the messages cast doubt on the separation of the Saudi state and the running of Newcastle is “as illogical as it is misconceived”.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
