CONCERNS ABOUT SAUDI MONEY DON'T MAR CELEBRATIONS IN NEWCASTLE

摘要

The latest gushing of oil money into English football - the Saudi Arabia-backed £305 million (US$415.7 million) takeover of Newcastle United - has been criticised by Amnesty International. The English Premier League approved the deal after receiving "legally binding assurances" the Saudi state would not control the club. This was based on a finding that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) - the Saudi sovereign wealth fund - is a separate entity to the kingdom, even though Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is its chairman. PIF controls assets of about £250 billion, which makes Newcastle one of the richest clubs in the world. Saudi has been accused of human rights abuses, including of being involved in the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. London-based Amnesty has written to the chief executive of the Premier League asking for a meeting to discuss safeguards.