- Assurances had been given that Saudi Arabia would not control Newcastle
- But leaked messages suggested that Mohammed bin Salman controlled the acquisition.
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The Premier League will not review the legality of the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United in light of claims about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s involvement.
In a series of leaked WhatsApp messages from 2020, financier Amanda Staveley told associates of then-Newcastle owner Mike Ashley: “The Crown Prince is losing patience – I must assure him we will get it done.”
He later sent a message saying: “(Yasir Al-Rumayyan) is trying to maintain the agreement and convince the Crown Prince not to withdraw.”
In October 2021, the £305 million takeover was approved 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 later acquired an 80 percent stake. Bin Salman is the president of the PIF.
The Premier League will not review the legality of the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United in 2021 in light of claims about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s involvement.
Amanda Staveley’s leaked messages suggested Bin Salman controlled the deal.
The WhatsApp messages, revealed this week by The Telegraph, have raised new questions about political involvement in the deal and whether assurances on separation between the PIF and the Saudi state were met.
However, Mail Sport understands the Premier League will not reconsider the matter. They were aware of the interactions at government level at the time, but this did not influence their thinking or decision-making in the owner and director testing process, carried out by the Premier League Board.
Staveley has since left Newcastle after selling his stake this summer.
Regarding the messages, her lawyers say she only referred to the Crown Prince in his capacity as president of the PIF and to suggest that they call into question the separation of the Saudi state and the operation of the club is “as illogical as it is wrong.”