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Exclusive: Premier League 'fully considering' calls to stop Newcastle's Saudi Arabia-backed takeover

File photo dated 14-03-2020 of a Newcastle United sign outside St James' Park, home of Newcastle United Football Club. PA Photo. Issue date: Monday April 27, 2020. The Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle could be completed within the next fortnight - PA
File photo dated 14-03-2020 of a Newcastle United sign outside St James' Park, home of Newcastle United Football Club. PA Photo. Issue date: Monday April 27, 2020. The Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle could be completed within the next fortnight - PA

The chief executive of the Premier League has revealed that calls by the fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi for it to stop the planned Saudi Arabia-backed takeover of Newcastle United “are being fully considered”.

In a letter seen by Telegraph Sport, Richard Masters told Hatice Cengiz’s lawyer he was “extremely sympathetic to your client’s position” after Rodney Dixon QC twice wrote to him on her behalf urging him to block the proposed £300 million deal.

It is the first time the Premier League has acknowledged it is examining allegations of murder and human rights abuses as part of the owners’ and directors’ test being conducted over the Newcastle takeover. Masters did, however, refuse to meet Cengiz after Dixon had requested he do so “as soon as possible”.

Cengiz first spoke out against the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle in April, warning that allowing the Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund to invest in the club would “greatly stain” the reputation of the world’s richest league and the UK as whole.

She also accused Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who the United Nations and CIA have directly implicated in the killing of dissident journalist Khashoggi, of “strategically using international sports to repair his badly-damaged reputation”.

There then followed an exchange of letters between Dixon and Masters, including the former saying of the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test: “The rules would clearly not permit Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Public Investment Fund from acquiring Newcastle in light of the available, credible evidence about his involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.” Masters wrote back: “Of course, I remain extremely sympathetic to your client’s position, but I am unable to correspond in any more detail than we have already on this matter.

“Our process is strictly private and confidential and must remain so.

“For this reason, a meeting is not possible particularly in light of correspondence on this confidential matter appearing in the media.

“However, I assure you and your client that her representations are being fully considered in our process.”

Cengiz said on Thursday night: “Mr Masters’ response gives me optimism that the Premier League will do the right thing here.

“I’m confident that if the Premier League follows their own rules and mandates, especially the owners’ and directors’ test, they will block the takeover of Newcastle United by Mohammed bin Salman and the Public Investment Fund he chairs.

“Until Bin Salman is held accountable for his role in Jamal’s brutal murder, organisations must refrain from doing any business with him.”

Saudi Arabia has always denied the prince was involved in the killing. The Premier League has also been extensively lobbied to stop the takeover over accusations of piracy of its matches by Saudi Arabia, which the World Trade Organisation found responsible for an illegal streaming service operating out of the country.