- Assurances had been given that Saudi Arabia would not control Newcastle
- But leaked messages suggested Mohammed bin Salman controlled the takeover
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The Premier League will not revisit the legality of Newcastle United’s Saudi-led takeover in light of claims about the involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sources have told Mail Sport.
In a series of leaked WhatsApp messages from 2020, financier Amanda Staveley said to associates of then Newcastle owner Mike Ashley: ‘The Crown Prince is losing patience – I need to assure him we will get there.’
She later sent a message that read: ‘(Yasir Al-Rumayyan) is trying to hang on to the deal and convince the Crown Prince not to pull out.’
In October 2021, the £305million takeover was signed off after Ashley agreed to the sale and the Premier League received ‘legally binding assurances’ that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – of which Bin Salman is the de facto leader – would not control Newcastle. The country’s Public Investment Fund subsequently took an 80 per cent stake. Bin Salman is the chairman of PIF.
The WhatsApp messages, revealed this week by The Telegraph, have raised fresh questions over political involvement in the deal and whether the assurances over separation between PIF and the Saudi state were adhered to.
The Premier League will not revisit the legality of Newcastle United’s Saudi-led takeover in 2021 in light of claims about the involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Leaked messages from Amanda Staveley had suggested that Bin Salman controlled the deal
However, Mail Sport understands the Premier League will not revisit the matter. We understand they were aware of interactions at government level at the time, but this did not influence their thinking or decision-making in the process of their Owners’ and Directors’ Test, carried out by the Premier League Board.
Staveley has since left Newcastle after selling her stake this summer. With regards the messages, her lawyers say she only referenced the Crown Prince in his capacity as PIF chairman and to suggest they cast doubt on the separation of the Saudi state and the running of the club is ‘as illogical as it is misconceived’.
The Premier League did not comment.
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