Qatari sports network BeIN Sports and Amnesty International have urged those responsible for the Premier League to investigate the possible sale of Newcastle United to an investment fund in Saudi Arabia, considering that it is part of a scheme to wash the image of the regime Arab. Despite nothing being closed, the English press assumes that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia will acquire about 80 percent of Newcastle from its current owner, Mike Ashley , who took over the 'magpies' in 2007 and put the entity up for sale in 2017.

"It is understood that the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund will acquire an 80% stake in the club as part of a consortium that includes financier Amanda Staveley and billionaire brothers Reuben," the BBC explained.

Before this information, the television partner of the Premier League in the United States, the Qatari platform beIN Sports, has urged the English league to "fully question" the possible acquisition, for some 300 million pounds, of Newcastle United, which would pass to become the richest club in the islands ahead of Manchester City.

BeIN Sports CEO Yousef al-Obaidly wrote to the presidents of the Premier's top-tier clubs warning of the deal, which could see the 'Magpies' bought by a "Saudi-backed regime consortium "

Al-Obaidly accuses the Saudi Arabian government of "facilitating the theft" of nearly three years of the Premier League's commercial rights, and in turn the commercial revenues of its clubs, through its support for the large-scale pirate service beoutQ . "It is no exaggeration to say that the future economic model of football is at stake," added Al-Obaidly, who also wrote to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters. Last year, soccer authorities tried to shut down the beoutQ service without success.

A two or three week process

According to the BBC, the Premier League must decide whether the group of investors backed by the Saudi investment fund meets its requirements, and notes that the documents related to the agreement are in the process of being processed, which could take two to three weeks.

On the other hand, the director of Amnesty International in the United Kingdom, Kate Allen , assured in a letter to Masters that this possible sale would damage the image of the Premier League by being linked to the Saudi totalitarian regime.

"The Premier League risks becoming easy prey for those who want to use the glamor and prestige of Premier football to cover up actions that are profoundly immoral, in violation of international law and at odds with Premier values. League and the world soccer community, "he said.

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