Plenty of Newcastle United fans have been discussing a report from The Times that the Premier League wanted Saudi Arabia on a United States blacklist for piracy.
The top flight asked this only weeks before it was asked to approve a Saudi-backed takeover of the Tyneside club, documents have revealed.
A submission from England’s highest division to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on February 5th said that the piracy of television broadcasts of Premier League matches via the Saudi-based beoutQ operation placed its income at significant risk and called for the country to be kept on its priority watch list.
[freshpress-quiz id=”292665″]
The publication of the document by the USTR highlights the difficulty facing the top flight in deciding whether it can approve the takeover of the Magpies by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Whether this would actually stop the takeover is in the air but it certainly raises more questions than answers at this stage.
These members of the Toon faithful discussed the news on Twitter:
A watch list meaning being watched. Doesn't really mean anything to me or would jeopardise the takeover. Basically means they need to tighten up their broadcasting security. Which I'm sure they'll do if they are buying in to the Premier League. Staveley is a smart cookie.
— Steven G (@gallowgatenufc1) April 30, 2020
Doubt it. I imagine the premier League has used to chance to ask Saudi about it but won't let it prevent the deal. I imagine after this Saudi will buy the rights from PL as part of the deal to keep them prem sweet. Just my opinion
— Mordo (@MordoCodes) April 30, 2020
Dirty again
— thereal andrew young (@temperamentalan) April 30, 2020
And? It’s the USA
— jonny (@jgray2706) April 30, 2020
I think the piracy allegations from BeIn sports against KSA lost credibility when their owner was charged with bribery.
— Toon (@Toontweeter) April 30, 2020
Missing football!? There’s still plenty of Newcastle discussion going on in the Vital Newcastle Forum! Click here to get involved!
