Newcastle United’s Saudi-Backed Ownership Under Scrutiny: Premier League Yet to Comment

Premier League CEO Richard Masters was questioned by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee regarding the ownership of Newcastle United after fresh uncertainty arose about the club’s backers. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns an 80% stake in the club, which was purchased for $409 million in 2021. However, PIF’s link with the Saudi Arabian government has come into question, leading to renewed scrutiny.

The Premier League has yet to comment formally on the matter, and Masters refused to comment during the hearing. The league received assurances at the time of the takeover that PIF was separate from the government, but a recent American court filing on behalf of LIV Golf, backed by Saudi interests, claimed that PIF should be considered a “foreign state.”

Newcastle United has flourished under their new owners, becoming contenders for next season’s Champions League. However, questions continue to swirl around the ownership and control of the club, with legal challenges mounting.