Newcastle United embroiled in new takeover controversy after leaked messages emerge of former owner Amanda Staveley.
Newcastle United face fresh problems as the former minority co-owner Amanda Staveley’s leaked WhatsApp conversations indicate that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman had a significant role in the club’s takeover.
After selling her shares, Staveley resigned from the Newcastle board in July. She facilitated the £305 million deal with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. That enabled the Premier League to get legally-binding guarantees of the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund and Saudi state’s separation in October 2021.
Given that Bin Salman is the PIF chairman, this caused some concern. On Sunday, the Telegraph released communications highlighting the degree of the UK government’s participation and suggesting that he was the primary driving force behind the purchase from British retail magnate Mike Ashley.
In one reported message Staveley cautions Ashley’s camp that “the Crown Prince is losing patience”. Another refers to attempts made to “convince the Crown Prince not to pull out”. In another she writes: “The UK Saudi ambassador spoke to the Crown Prince this morning.”
The Premier League requested confirmation that the PIF existed independently of the Saudi government. Foreign nations are to buy Premier League teams. Saudi owners have raised considerable concerns due to their human rights record. According to a CIA investigation, Bin Salman gave his approval for the 2018 Istanbul murder of Saudi dissident and Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi. The crown prince has refuted any personal participation.
Through her solicitors, Staveley informed the Telegraph that she had only mentioned Bin Salman in his capacity as PIF chairman. And that it was “as illogical as it is misconceived” to infer from her messages that the PIF’s pledges of independence from the Saudi government have been upheld.
Staveley referred to PIF as “an autonomous commercially driven investment fund”. The Premier League declared in October 2021 that it had “received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control Newcastle United Football Club.” The Guardian has contacted the Premier League for comment; they declined to speak to the Telegraph.
The PIF was by Staveley as “an autonomous, commercially driven investment fund” in October 2021. In reaction to the disclosed WhatsApp conversations. She was “entirely confident” the promise.
At first, Staveley owned 10% of Newcastle. Reuben Brothers, real estate developers, currently own 15% of the shares, with PIF controlling 85%.
Staveley required supporters in order to fulfil his long-held desire to own a portion of Newcastle. Her invitation to meet with Yasir al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor and current chairman of Newcastle, on Bin Salman’s yacht Serene in the Red Sea in 2019 was a significant milestone.
Staveley was reported by the Telegraph to have sent a message to Ashley’s team in October 2020. It says “No 10 can’t get further involved than what they have done to date. Gerry [Lord Grimstone, the then UK minister for investment] said that they pushed behind the scenes and made it very clear that their preference is for the deal to go ahead, they are obviously very aware of the damage this has caused and the repercussions for future investment.”
Grimstone told the Telegraph he kept abreast of large potential UK investments in his former capacity as investment minister. He said: “I made it very clear to Mr Hoffman [Gary Hoffman, the then Premier League chairman]. My only role was to facilitate the passing of ideas between the PIF and Premier League. And that in no way did I seek to prejudice the Premier League’s complete autonomy in this matter.”