The Premier League will find it ‘very difficult’ to stop the proposed takeover of Newcastle from taking place, talkSPORT co-host Simon Jordan believes.
The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), led by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, has made a £300m cash bid to buy the Magpies from Mike Ashley.
There has been plenty of opposition to the takeover bid, with Amnesty International accusing the Middle Eastern kingdom of ‘trying to sportwash their abysmal human rights records’, while the fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has urged the Premier League to block the Saudis’ Toon takeover.
Another hurdle emerged last month, with the World Trade Organisation claiming the country is behind a pirate satellite TV and steaming service offering illegal access to sporting events – including Premier League matches.
However, Jordan has insisted that top-flight chiefs will struggle to block the takeover, claiming Newcastle fans have a ‘right’ to have agreement ratified.
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When asked if the takeover will go through as planned, Jordan said: “I’ve never thought that it wouldn’t.
“The first challenge was the mile outrage about the Saudi Arabian regime and people within the confines of the Premier League objecting to it – but that moral outrage is difficult to control as that’s the government’s job to deal with.
“The next one is around the regime being involved in piracy but I believe it’s going to be very, very difficult to stop this takeover.
“I think that right now they’re getting their ducks in a line with broadcasters and with finances and given the nature of public scrutiny, people have got a lot of time on their hands to really scrutinise the transaction.
“There are regimes that are also not the most ideal regimes and I believe Newcastle fans have a right to want these owners that they want – and I think they’ll get them.
“I don’t have any anticipation that the Premier League will stop this acquisition.
“They might use it as great leverage to see if any mechanism to stop piracy of their rights by beIN Sports.”
Meanwhile, Amanda Staveley, whose company PCP Capital Partners is leading takeover of the Magpies, has reportedly put the purchase of the club on hold as she priorities a mega-money court case.
According to the Daily Mail, Staveley’s immediate attention is elsewhere as she takes to the High Court accusing Barclays bank of deceit.
The financier claims she was cheated out of up to £1.6bn in fees with the bank allegedly favouring other Qatari investors over her company as they tried to raise £7.3bn in cash during the 2008 financial crisis.
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