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
Mund
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:11 PM
Comment #121Before I give up can I ask a question?
What’s your take on it all? What do you think is going on? Serious questions, interested in your answer.
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:11 PM
Comment #122Mund try weekdays.
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:13 PM
Comment #123i think Amanda is trying to broker a deal to get a pay day like the last takeover.
WLtoon
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:13 PM
Comment #124Watching the 66 World Cup final atm, the game is in black & white but the goals are replayed in colour, weird or what.
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:14 PM
Comment #125good luck to her.
WLtoon
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:14 PM
Comment #126COME ON THE TOON, LETS HEAR IT FOR WOR MANDY, HWTL
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:15 PM
Comment #127it’s her job.
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:15 PM
Comment #128don’t get me wrong i admire people like Amanda.
Mund
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:16 PM
Comment #129Jane
Lol ok so I’m guessing your not an Amanda fan?
What evidence supports this theory? Or is it just your opinion?
What’s your thoughts on Richard Masters letter to Khashoggi’s supposing wife?
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:16 PM
Comment #130is that ok Mund?
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:17 PM
Comment #131“What’s your thoughts on Richard Masters letter to Khashoggi’s supposing wife?”
he was written to so replied. even if the O&D test wasn’t in progress he wouldn’t have said so.
Mund
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:19 PM
Comment #132Jane
Outside of this Amanda Staveley is a very respected businesswoman worldwide. To say she is just after another pay day is down right disrespectful. Show me evidence of Amanda Staveley being a supposed tyre kicker anywhere else?
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:19 PM
Comment #133“What evidence supports this theory? Or is it just your opinion?”
just my opinion based on it being similar to last time.
The Hit Man & Her
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:20 PM
Comment #134Of course if all the snippets we’ve been given are wearing all the colours of truth that’s bound to make people think they must be facts, no smoke etc.
But if you were to take all these FACTs into a court of law, you wouldnt get a judgement.
AncientC
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:20 PM
Comment #135Amanda Staveley has her work cut out for her, if she’s trying to keep the Saudi’s dangling on a process being stalled out this long. I am unsure how long a self-respecting business person would allow themselves to be left in limbo to this degree.
Hopefully the deal is done and an announcement has been suspended for some reason. Patience is supposedly a virtue… sure finding that out the hard way.
Mund
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:23 PM
Comment #136He said he would take all matters into consideration etc etc if there was no takeover or at least with the Premier League going through the D&O test he surely would of said so.
So you admit and acknowledge she’s wrote to the Premier League? So isn’t that evidence that this is actually happening?
Do you think that she wrote to the Premier League off her own back? Or do you think someone else was behind it?
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:24 PM
Comment #137ancient
We are one of the smallest of all the Saudi investments this year, dwarfed by the disney and Facebook deals etc.
I really dont think they are bothered about the delay, at most it is irritating. Its not like this is their biggest priority and everything is riding on it, it’ll be done when it is done.
Northumbrian
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:27 PM
Comment #138Amanda stavely’s payday??.
10% shares in nufc.
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:27 PM
Comment #139“So you admit and acknowledge she’s wrote to the Premier League? ”
yes
“So isn’t that evidence that this is actually happening?”
everyone knows something is happening.
“Do you think that she wrote to the Premier League off her own back? Or do you think someone else was behind it?”
don’t know.
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:29 PM
Comment #140“Amanda stavely’s payday??.
10% shares in nufc.”
did a journalist say that?
archaeomag
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:29 PM
Comment #141@goth
We just like to pretend it’s a matter of life & death; difficult to sustain that at the moment !
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:30 PM
Comment #142i could bat these all day 🙂
Northumbrian
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:31 PM
Comment #143Did a journalist say that?? I don’t know, just as no one else knows
Mund
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:31 PM
Comment #144Ok you’ve been fair with my repetitive questions lol sorry for that reading back that was a bit much.
What about the Reubens involvement plus Saudis surely that goes against tor theory of Staveley doing this as a pay day.
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:31 PM
Comment #145The Hit Man & Her now put my answers into some flowery words.
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:32 PM
Comment #146no problem Mund it was fun 🙂
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:34 PM
Comment #147“What about the Reubens involvement plus Saudis surely that goes against tor theory of Staveley doing this as a pay day.”
it was Reubens and Arabs last time.
jane
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:36 PM
Comment #148i’m away now to annoy others.
beefman13
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:37 PM
Comment #149I suppose most have seen Richard Keys rant last week on the takeover, omg, this fella was literally shaking, he accused the British government of telling the PL if they don’t accept the Saudi PIF deal for the toon, the government would not give the go ahead for the restart of the season!!!!!
Unbelievable statement, even Andy Grey called it sadistic, Keys outlined every major sports channel had complained about the piracy issue to the PL and the PL agreed, he said they have been after the RSA PIF for a few years, so there it is, the PL have their chance to scupper the deal, but have the government told them to accept it, the knives are out for sure.
Thump
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:38 PM
Comment #150i’m away now to annoy others.
Finally, some good news on the blog.
AncientC
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:45 PM
Comment #151Goth, exactly why the Saudis could easily walk away from the deal. Why bother with a prolonged process, when you have the media filling in the pauses with incriminating stories.
If the Newcastle deal is small fry, what’s keeping them at the table. The silence right now is deafening. The only thing to hinge on, is the reported deposit paid. A lot of money has been made in stocks since the beginning of this drawn out process.
It seems like there has been easier money to be made recently, more so than spending nearly a quarter of year (getting there) trying to buy a football club whilst the media flings rotten veg from the sidelines.
Assassins Inc
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:45 PM
Comment #152I’m getting myself cryopreserved for 50 years, hopefully Ashley or a family member still doesn’t own the club when I’m thawed out.
Asi Fish
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:48 PM
Comment #153Just finished Virtual Rat Race with the family (25km run over the last 3 days = 5 wrist bands), the puppy is snoozing (good boy) so time to catch up with a well deserved beer – trying this Iron Maiden Trooper beer 🙂
Tom needs more than 1000 jokes to see out this takeover timeline………..”what’s yellow and tastes like blue paint”? “Yellow paint”!
Maybe the leak of the super secretive takeover was planned so that all of the protests & grievances could be aired prior to the actual takeover? The announcement is then not ruined because everyone has had their chance to stand on a sand bag and swing their lantern, the PL are seen to be considerate, answers are in place but the process will be looked at for future cases whilst the money rolls in…….
Anyway, who knows but I hope we get some answers soon.
I think it will happen eventually…………..well I hope it will happen……….no, it will surely happen……..but wait…..
Repeat repeat repeat
Mund
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:48 PM
Comment #154Reuben’s distanced themselves from any involvement previously.
I knew I wouldn’t get you thinking any other way, your strong on your opinions and that’s fine me too but I just wanted to show a little evidence that there is a takeover. You agree something is happening but your opinion is this is all a charade just so Amanda soon to be Queen of Geordieland will pocket some cash.
I hope my opinion proves yours wrong and I’m guessing you hope the same.
Asi Fish
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:49 PM
Comment #155Well said Thump, although Bladey will probably be along soon………..
archaeomag
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:49 PM
Comment #156Bad News for Veggie & Vegan Mags.
If you google [images]
” Reubens ” there are loads of pictures of meaty stuff
wynsleap
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:51 PM
Comment #157Masters has a choice to make. Pass the takeover and get earache from all the do-gooders and envious clubs, bitter media, reporters and individuals like Kashoggi’s piece of work and Richard Keys or face bankruptcy at the hand of the Saudi’s legal eagles together with open scrutiny of the Government’s dealings with the Saudis and questions about Man Utd’s financial deals with them.
No contest as far as I can see it.
WLtoon
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:51 PM
Comment #158Watching the 66 world cup game, ive noticed that the pace of the game was a lot slower all those years ago. and footballers looked a lot older then. A lot of them looked like grandads lol
Bobby Moore floats on thin air, what a player.
Northumbrian
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:53 PM
Comment #159Where is KV by the way? He’s gone aywall .
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jun 7, 2020 at 2:53 PM
Comment #160Ancient
It depends how we see things, i see the positive, you the negative i guess.