It was reported yesterday that MP Giles Watling had requested an evidence session be held on the claims of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in broadcast piracy. Watling is part of the Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport select committee and had called on his fellow members to look into the matter.
However, Ben Rumsby, with the Telegraph, is reporting that his request will fall on deaf ears as the committee is firmly focused on battling the coronavirus.
Exclusive: Newcastle takeover by Saudi Arabia not to be scrutinised by DCMS select committee in snub to member's request | @ben_rumsbyhttps://t.co/88iX7GdykI
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) May 14, 2020
The government had already declined to have any influence on the Premier League’s process regarding the takeover of Newcastle by the Saudi-backed consortium.
Watling’s renewed call came after new legal documents were submitted earlier this week reportedly showing evidence of a link between the Saudi regime and broadcast pirates beoutQ.
Giles Watling– DCMS Committee member
If Rumbsy’s report is accurate, then this is very positive news for Newcastle fans in support of the takeover. An evidence session on Saudi broadcast piracy would have delayed this takeover for who knows how long.
Hopefully, this is a positive sign that the takeover remains on track. It’s up to the Premier League to strictly follow their documented procedures, which should see them approve this takeover despite the delay.
It would be quite cruel beyond belief to Newcastle fans if this takeover does not go through. It’s a thought we really don’t want to entertain in the slightest.
58 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
May 15, 2020 at 9:43 AM
Comment #1This is putting us through the wringer!
JP...from The Rock
May 15, 2020 at 9:45 AM
Comment #2Keith Downie now saying it could take months! So sick of this waiting. This is getting boring and with eqch passing day more and more idiots are conong out attempting to boock the takeover.
The House of Saud said it would be by the end of this week. NUFC.com said it would be this week yet here we are and nothing but new objections. Fed up of waiting.
JP...from The Rock
May 15, 2020 at 9:46 AM
Comment #3https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/11988296/newcastle-takeover-the-latest-the-future-and-mike-ashleys-legacy
damma99
May 15, 2020 at 9:48 AM
Comment #4Fcuk. Even Jimmy Osmond’s complaining now.
Thump
May 15, 2020 at 9:51 AM
Comment #5@JP: That isn’t what he said, mate.
“It’s been with the Premier League for a number of weeks now [for an owners’ and directors’ test] but that can happen, it can take weeks, it can take months. With the current pandemic we’ve got I think that makes it even more difficult to work out when we’ll have a resolution to this.”
tl;dr: nobody knows
the crown princes nashers
May 15, 2020 at 9:52 AM
Comment #6well they have tried every trick in the book havent they, shows utter comtempt towards the club and us the supporters, we wont forget about any of this when its all over and done with, ive always known that there was hatered of our club and us the supporters but I didnt have a clue on how much hatered there was, look at the list of them, other supporters from other clubs, the press most of it, some mps, bein sports, qatar, they can throw everything but the kitchen sink at us the supporters and the club and the city but it will never change us in how we all feel about our great club, our great supporters and our fantastic city, so come on keep throwing the bullshit at us because one day we will be laughing at your expense, we will always bounce back
kilcline
May 15, 2020 at 9:52 AM
Comment #7This feels like it’s dead in the water, if this was spurs it would of gone through weeks ago.
geordietom
May 15, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Comment #8Repost …
https://www.themag.co.uk/2020/05/sky-sports-newcastle-united-takeover-at-final-knockings-as-mike-ashley-and-amanda-staveley-kiss-and-made-up/
from that article …
Sky Sports aren’t anticipating any problems in terms of that Premier League process but say that things will take as long as they take. Warning that whilst early reports claimed between two and four weeks for the checks and approval to be given, this type of deal can potentially take months to be approved and then completed. The report saying that the virus situation hasn’t helped in terms of the Premier League getting the work done on the Newcastle United takeover.
It is understandable that with the takeover having been with the Premier League for over five weeks now and so much nonsense in the media, that fans will get anxious.
However, all we are seeing now are the same issues endlessly produced as potential new obstacles to the deal, when in reality they are simply recycled. The human rights issues in Saudi Arabia and claims of TV piracy, neither of which will, in my opinion, come anywhere close to preventing the takeover. These are not new issues and have been around for years, it would be quite extraordinary if the Premier League attempted to block the takeover using either issue as the reason. Something which surely would see legal action taken by the Saudi PIF bidders.
RobLeenio
May 15, 2020 at 9:57 AM
Comment #9That guy looks like a right self-entitled pr!ck
Jib
May 15, 2020 at 9:59 AM
Comment #10Two things
1) With the state of world footy there really is no hurry
2) Even if the Saudis are removed from the takeover
Ashley will still sell and the removal of MA is the priority
Novocastrian66
May 15, 2020 at 10:00 AM
Comment #11Everyone has an opinion on NUFC. Cannot understand it myself, after all we are a small club in the North East of England.
the Northumbrian
May 15, 2020 at 10:01 AM
Comment #12Bit cheeky of that bloody Italian team contacting MBS asking him to buy them instead if this takeover fails
the crown princes nashers
May 15, 2020 at 10:01 AM
Comment #13true jib
SA Toon
May 15, 2020 at 10:02 AM
Comment #14I believe the Prem’s failure to make a decision on the takeover is a violation of the club’s right to administrative fairness. Their D & O Test is binary and doesn’t respond to any of the various allegations made against KSA or the Crown Prince. Whatever one may think of their human rights record or the Kingdom’s alleged acquiescence in the piracy of sports footage, those issues are irrelevant to the probity of the bid consortium. So too is the latest political lobby to try and drag the takeover before the Parliamentary Committee. The Prem must announce the results of their test and any other initiatives must take their own course or fail. This attempt by certain politicians and other stakeholders to politicize a commercial transaction is highly irregular and the issues should not be conflated. Either the consortium passes the D & O Test or it doesn’t. The process cannot be allowed to become captive to political agendas.
Novocastrian66
May 15, 2020 at 10:03 AM
Comment #15Robleenio; He’s a Tory and an alledged actor. Nowt more to say.
JP...from The Rock
May 15, 2020 at 10:04 AM
Comment #16Thump- he did mention months, that’s after we’ve already been 5 weeks waiting for the checks to be done. Nobody knows but just last week it was a matter of a week or two and the word ‘months’ is flying around.
The sooner this gets sorted the better for everyone’s sake. It really is getting drawn out to an extreme now.
AshLie Out!!
Novocastrian66
May 15, 2020 at 10:05 AM
Comment #17Gan on SA Toon. You should send that to Staveley’s lawyers.
the crown princes nashers
May 15, 2020 at 10:05 AM
Comment #18aye tom thats all there doing, cycle and repeat on and on and on again, there trying to wear us all down ha take a lot more then that to wear us geordies doon thats for sure, what these people dont realise when all this is over with it will make our owners a lot more convinced they picked the right club and they can shove it down there throats over what they make of the club and the city and our pride back in the club we all love, just enjoy them all squrm at a distance because none of them will have the guts to square up to us thats for sure
JP...from The Rock
May 15, 2020 at 10:06 AM
Comment #19*and now the word months
the Northumbrian
May 15, 2020 at 10:07 AM
Comment #20JP I think by him using ” months ” he was referencing Southampton that’s all
the crown princes nashers
May 15, 2020 at 10:08 AM
Comment #21SA toon
well put
Novocastrian66
May 15, 2020 at 10:08 AM
Comment #22The PL are a bunch of amateurs. This, it gets done when its done, attitude is a disgrace. A lot of people’s future depend on this. Murder trials don’t go on this long. Oh and I can’t wait to open my Theakston’s pale ale.
The Hit Man & Her
May 15, 2020 at 10:08 AM
Comment #23Jib you and context have always had a strained relationship in fact she chuckled you out years ago for not understanding her at all. If Dr Ed decided to be censors for every link they make to relevant content to NUFC then they would wind up with little or no links. But I don’t see any article they personally wrote as being the productive of an inventively foul mind.
And finally, you calling me anything is beyond hypocrisy and completely unwarranted and frankly if you were half the cultured person you try to project yourself as you’d be apologising for a Laos rather than striking out at someone who has brought you a home truth. Perhaps we can excuse your language and attitude and put it down to how you speak to your Spanish villa cleaner as you boot her down the stairs for not picking up all the cans from your bedroom floor.
Thump
May 15, 2020 at 10:09 AM
Comment #24@SA Toon: Are they irrelevant? Surely you’d want to see these claims assessed before being thrown out to ensure an accurate judgement?
The beoutQ thing is a storm in a teacup in my opinion. Let’s say there is a link: now they want to get involved with one of the EPLs clubs, it’s now in their interest to step away from it (they have a horse in the race, after all). Kashoggi, as tragic as it is, isn’t relevant here.
The Hit Man & Her
May 15, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Comment #25The test paper will have to have the requisite number of coffee rings and quickly jotted shopping items on the corners before it can be passed properly.
JP...from The Rock
May 15, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Comment #26The crown prince’s nashers- it is recycled junk that nonetheless worries me the longer it takes as I still feel thet under constant pressure the FA will/could buckle.
Once this is done and dusted then we can shoce it down their throata alright!
This takeover saga jusy proves what we’ve known all along, that the rest of the UK has an agenda agianst Newcastle. It’s beyond doubt now. It’s disgusting.
JP...from The Rock
May 15, 2020 at 10:12 AM
Comment #27The Northumbrian- I hope you’re right mate: Could you imagine all this taking another 3 months. Scary thought.
I am desperate to drink the #cans I have in the fridge staring at me everyday lol
Mund
May 15, 2020 at 10:12 AM
Comment #28I don’t understand why some fans put themselves through sheer torture with this takeover.
Yes it’s frustrating but why add to it with believing everything you read and coming up with your own assumptions and beliefs, which is always negative. Downie put out a tweet about the takeover and someone on here all they heard from that is that it will take months, but that wasn’t what he said.
Fact. journalists know nothing more than we do.
Fact. A deposit has been paid and sales agreement agreed.
Fact. Ashley desperately wants to sell.
Fact. It’s been with the premier league
Fact. nobody but parties involved know How far down the line we are.
Stop reading into all the click bait that comes out about the takeover.
I’m sure saying this word will get your back up but it’s the single most important word in all this.
Patience…..
#cans
The Hit Man & Her
May 15, 2020 at 10:13 AM
Comment #29Look let’s keep this simple. The PL directors & owners test is a relatively simple tick box of financial propriety, and possible competition – rigging vested interests.
There will be no credence given to complaints about who owns what satellite.
There will be no discussion at all about human rights issues.
If the buyers are rich enough, and have no convictions then it will go through in double quick time. If it has started, that is.
geordietom
May 15, 2020 at 10:14 AM
Comment #30SA TOON …
What does the SA stand for if you dont mind me asking . South Africa ? Saudi Arabi ? …
the Northumbrian
May 15, 2020 at 10:15 AM
Comment #31JP just drink them and once its all done and I’m sure it will be drink some nice cold replacements
The Hit Man & Her
May 15, 2020 at 10:15 AM
Comment #32Chuckled? Laos? No idea what’s happening up there but autocorrect is on the pop early. 😐
geordietom
May 15, 2020 at 10:15 AM
Comment #33or SOUTH Amble 😀
the crown princes nashers
May 15, 2020 at 10:16 AM
Comment #34JP…from The Rock
I know what you mean but I honestly dont think theres a problem just taking a bit longer then we all expected but this was from sports reporters you know, cant take a word them lot say really
the crown princes nashers
May 15, 2020 at 10:17 AM
Comment #35amble now thats a blast from the past, we used to have a caravan there when I was a kid, bugger Ive never been there in years
hibbit
May 15, 2020 at 10:18 AM
Comment #36worth a look
https://www.themag.co.uk/2020/05/sky-sports-newcastle-united-takeover-at-final-knockings-as-mike-ashley-and-amanda-staveley-kiss-and-made-up/
JP...from The Rock
May 15, 2020 at 10:18 AM
Comment #37Mund- you’re right mate. Gotta stop believing the clickbait press that really know no more than we do regarding timescale. It’s just I was really hoping that today was going to be the day and waking up to see the word months made feel sick for a moment.
Could be anytime really and after 13 torturous years under that fat clown what’s a few weeks more to see the end of him.
I am more chilled now after having my breakfast lol gotta stop refreshing the newsnow page every minute as it does no good but stress me out.
the Northumbrian
May 15, 2020 at 10:20 AM
Comment #38Amble!! Just up the coast from my location nice town good chippy.
the crown princes nashers
May 15, 2020 at 10:20 AM
Comment #39aye good read hibbit, like it says all repeat repeat
geordietom
May 15, 2020 at 10:21 AM
Comment #40HIBBIT …
beat you to it mate 😀