Yesterday was a bit of a dour news day concerning the takeover of Newcastle United. The BBC reported that Premier League chief Richard Masters responded back to Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In his letter back to Cengiz, Masters assured her that the league was fully considering her concerns in their approval process.
This development was compound by a report from the Financial Times. It reveals that Masters has also recently met with beIN executives who are lobbying the league to block the takeover on broadcast claims.
Then there’s an exclusive in the Independent that 16 MPs and peers have written to the government expressing concerns with the Saudi involvement in the Premier League.
Thankfully, the government thus far has remained neutral in the process.
Today the Mail’s Helen Cahill is reporting that Saudi Arabia is working to send an olive branch to Qatar over the alleged broadcast piracy.
This is what Cahill writes in her report.
Saudi Arabia is set to work out a peace deal over TV rights with Qatar amid fears the row could scupper the takeover of Newcastle.
Sources close to negotiations have told The Mail on Sunday that the Saudi wealth fund bidding for the club have pledged to use their influence in government to open talks between the two nations after Qatari broadcaster BeIN Sports threatened to derail the £300million deal over claims of TV piracy.
We still believe the Premier League will approve this takeover because this consortium meets the requirements outlined in its guidelines.
The league is being ultra-cautious and as thorough as possible by giving credence to every call to block this takeover. This is probably a wise decision on their part.
This whole process has been infected with politics.
The Premier League should not cower to the pressure being applied. They must remain committed to the rules and regulations they have put in place for the owners’ and directors’ tests.
326 comments so far
DubaiMicky
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:13 PM
Comment #1Helen Cahill reads this blog!
Anglo Saxon
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:16 PM
Comment #2Tom, Oh NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Northumbrian
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:17 PM
Comment #3If the Saudis try to sort this piracy issue out with bein wouldn’t that suggest guilt in the eyes of the PL?
Anglo Saxon
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:18 PM
Comment #4OP no not you, white tino mate.
Optimistic prime
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:20 PM
Comment #5The main reason I’ve barely posted and even missed days worth of the reading the blog is theres nothing new, hasn’t been for months.
Same shit different day, imaginary targets, new problems new positives.
At the end of the day no one knows anything, not even the journalists, it’s all opinion largely based on guesswork.
Can’t be arsed stressing about it anymore.
The FFP is interesting, maybe the clubs that are currently serving bans or about to is what’s causing the headaches, are bans lifted or kept in place?
On this thread, does this journalists read the blog?
I said during the week that these two may need to come to a compromise and that’s what could be holding things up.
The Prince's Mate
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:20 PM
Comment #6WLtoon@288 previous.
Good call I’ll have to get myself a bottle now (aw shucks. ha)
JP...from The Rock
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:21 PM
Comment #7This takeover is so tedious now. Fed up. Everyday there something negative and positive and the press are clewrly just making stuff up. Once it’s finally over it will be surreal after this exhausting experience.
Optimistic prime
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:22 PM
Comment #8Dubai
Snap, I doubt I’m the only one who’s said the same or mentioned it on here.
The Prince's Mate
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:23 PM
Comment #9Is it my crap phone or has everything gone small and wide again… happening too often now. (could be alien visitors… oooooh)
Jib
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:23 PM
Comment #10Northumbrian
By virtue of the fact that a club place a release fee on a player
then other clubs folk talking to that player cannot constitute
“tapping up”
Zele
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:25 PM
Comment #11I wonder whether our position in the league and the uncertainty of results because games will be played behind closed doors has a bearing on decisions.
I’m sure some buyers would only want to commit once it was certain that we had avoided relegation.
The news coming out of Germany about the rise in injuries must be a concern for PL clubs as it may effect the performance and results of games, one way or another.
Northumbrian
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:26 PM
Comment #12Jib, cheers mate its a topic I couldn’t get my head around.
The Prince's Mate
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:26 PM
Comment #13Dubai@1.
I know I’m going to get my bot kicked, but who is she?
geordietom
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:26 PM
Comment #14for those haven’t seen next seasons shirt crest …
https://scontent-lhr8-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/102638582_10221940313992346_3623851928490387026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_oc=AQlnbEWMubi8MsRXt4UBiFWN8tskpFywtYY5fj45u4g-hwIAyUrdeRA12FFEgzfHvC4&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr8-1.xx&oh=4b406b766c01433ef2bed0cf0c7a3346&oe=5F0369EC…
sorry again for the long link …
geordietom
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:27 PM
Comment #15who’s helen cahill ? …
Anglo Saxon
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:27 PM
Comment #16OP think the whole scenario got everybody stressed mate, think I might have to switch off this week my sleep pattern is sh*te having to have a kip in the afternoon.
Rotonda heights
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:27 PM
Comment #17JIBBY
geordietom
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:28 PM
Comment #18topic do they still sell them ? …
geordietom
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:28 PM
Comment #19topics *
Mund
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:29 PM
Comment #20Writes for the times normally business and finance
Northumbrian
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:30 PM
Comment #21Tom don’t know but this takeover is a marathon.
Mund
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:30 PM
Comment #22If that is in fact the Helen Cahill Dubai is talking about
Optimistic prime
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:31 PM
Comment #23I’ve been putting in the miles on my new bike, SJP is always a place I pass but I’ve started going past the training ground up to rising sun country park.
Blast around the trails, at the highest point theres a decent view. You can look towards the training ground see the roofs of the indoor pitches, parts of training pitches. Scrap yard a few farmers fields and a bit more space to possibly expand if they stay there when takeover happens.
I ride past the kids and first team facilities through the path way, usually a few dog walkers etc, rising sun is fun for a cycle or a dog walk etc too.
Have’nt noticed any changes to either training facilities or SJP, it all looks better in the rain, in the sun it shows it all needs TLC.
#cans
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:33 PM
Comment #24Helen Cahill article in the mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8395355/Saudi-Arabia-work-peace-deal-Qatar-TV-rights-bid-save-Newcastle-takeover.html
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:34 PM
Comment #25Helen Cahill wrote the piece in the Mail yesterday/today.
also did a piece on Staveley vs barclays i think too.
DaveD1000
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:35 PM
Comment #26Can still but Topics even amazon sell em
WLtoon
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:38 PM
Comment #27Zele,
You make a good point re players and injuries. I think we will be fine providing our quota of injuries are CBs, as we have more than our fair share, so injuries in that department wont affect us that much, if any of our attacking mids get injured then that is a huge concern.
ronaldo aarons
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:39 PM
Comment #28Miguel Delaney, supposedly a Man Utd fan, wrote this independent article when MBS was reportedly sniffing around buying Man Utd.
Compare and contrast to how he’s spoken and written about them taking over Newcastle. Night and day.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-sale-saudi-arabia-interest-reports-latest-buy-club-mohammad-bin-salman-a8586866.html
Optimistic prime
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:39 PM
Comment #29Anglo
It’s like waiting for a volcano to explode.
Its rumbling, noise and all the signs, will it/won’t it.
Some are panicking and running for the hills, some don’t believe it will happen as they’ve seen it all before and the volcano fell silent.
One thing is for sure, it will explode one day, it’s just a matter of time before it erupts like never before destroying all in it’s way.
The Hit Man & Her
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:40 PM
Comment #30I’ve had the feeling for a long time now that all this furore , people supposedly writing protest letters, representations made to various bodies, journalists inside knowledge and questionings over details of owners and directors tests is all based on very little if anything at all.
Whatever the reasons for delaying an announcement of a deal that has already been done, there are none left really that justify keeping it secret any longer are there? I’m not trying to burst any bubbles or hoping that Ashley stays but the credibility of anything actually being done at all to see him gone has all but disappeared. Where exactly are we?
JohnJ
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:42 PM
Comment #31So Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are all putting in place economic and diplomatic embargos on Qatar over claims that the Qatar state supports terrorism……
I would have thought that The Premier League must be aware of that situation – surely if the allegations are true Qatar is “the bad boy” in this case?
Anyway what about the flow of cash from FIFA that bought a World Cup for Qatar eh? If anything smells that does!!!
geordietom
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:42 PM
Comment #32Northumbrian …
very good 10/10 mate 😀
Captain AmeriMag
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:42 PM
Comment #33Amazing how differently we can view the same things!
I saw yesterday’s news stories as big positives. Masters writing to Hatice and meeting with Bein feels like damage limitation before signing of on approval and the MP’s letter is trying to push the government to insist on a more stringent O&D test for future takeovers.
All looks like it’s going through very soon to me!!
😀
Look past the negative headlines and there’s a positive story in all these articles.
#CANS
Optimistic prime
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:43 PM
Comment #34Anglo
I should add, I’ve been living under the threat of the volcano exploding for so long I’ve forgot about it and just get on with daily life.
Anglo Saxon
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:44 PM
Comment #35OP, just hope my ticker is still ticking when it happens mate.
Zele
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:44 PM
Comment #36The Hit Man & Her,
You only know an announcement is being delayed when you know the date it was supposed to be announced.
It may be progressing as planned, we don’t know.
geordietom
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:44 PM
Comment #37Is Helen Cahill with us or against us …
Mund
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:44 PM
Comment #38Ronaldo
Glad to have you back and with a good post as well showing that Delaney for exactly who he is.
JohnJ
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:45 PM
Comment #39I’m hoping for a confirmation of the sale of NUFC on Tuesday – now wouldn’t that be a magic date eh?
We got rid of Mister Ash le y Twas on the ninth of June
Twenty Twenty on a Tuesday afternoon…..
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:46 PM
Comment #40JohnJ
The Qatar embargo happened in 2017 so has been in place for 3 years or so.