Angry Premier League clubs demand emergency meeting on Newcastle deal [Gruniad]

r00fie1

r00fie1

Well-known member

www.theguardian.com

Angry Premier League clubs demand emergency meeting on Newcastle deal

Angry clubs have targeted the Premier League with complaints about the Newcastle United takeover and are pushing for an emergency meeting next week
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

Angry Premier League clubs demand emergency meeting on Newcastle deal​

  • Other 19 clubs united in opposition to Newcastle takeover
  • Clubs concerned Premier League’s brand could be damaged
1633750868155.png
Angry clubs have targeted the Premier League with complaints about the Newcastle United takeover and are pushing for an emergency meeting next week.

The 19 other top-flight clubs are understood to be united in opposition to a Saudi-led consortium being allowed to buy out Mike Ashley and are demanding to know what changed for it to be waved through and why they received so little notice.

The demand for the emergency meeting is not so much an attempt to derail the takeover – because it is too late – rather a reflection of how high feelings are running.

Clubs have expressed concern that the Premier League’s brand could be damaged by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) taking an 80% stake in Newcastle, although eyebrows will be raised at this given the identity of other owners in the division. The deal has been fiercely criticised by human rights groups, especially as PIF – the state’s sovereign wealth fund – is overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The arrival of a new set of billionaire owners is bound to have upset clubs who see on the horizon a far more competitive Newcastle and the prospect of St James’ Park wealth inflating transfer fees and wages.

The league’s chief executive, Richard Masters, and chairman, Gary Hoffman, have received complaints from clubs who had no idea the Newcastle takeover was about to be approved. It was first proposed in March 2020 but the consortium withdrew its bid four months later amid growing fears it would fail the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test.

The subject was not on the agenda at the most recent shareholders’ meeting two weeks ago. The league effectively blocked the deal last year and it was said last week at a competition appeals tribunal (CAT) involving Ashley and the league that arbitration proceedings to decide the matter were scheduled to begin on 3 January.

It is understood clubs learned via the media on Wednesday of the impending takeover and received confirmation from the league by email at 5.18pm on Thursday. That is the time at which the league released a statement saying the deal was done and that it had “received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control Newcastle United”.

The league would no doubt point out that issues of confidentiality and legality prevented the sharing of Newcastle developments. Furthermore, the league board’s nominated powers over the owners’ and directors’ test were endorsed after a vote among the clubs.

The league’s QC, Adam Lewis, had said at the CAT that the deal could go ahead – albeit there was no suggestion it would happen so swiftly. “If the arbitration decides KSA [the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] is not a director then the transaction can and will go ahead, with no question of the owners’ and directors’ test being applied to KSA,” Lewis said.

Since then Saudi Arabia has lifted its ban on the Qatar-based beIN Sports and promised to close pirate websites showing Premier League football in the country. Crucially, it also convinced the league the state would not be involved in the day-to-day running of Newcastle. There is considerable unease among clubs as to whether this will prove to be the case.

The Newcastle takeover has drawn reaction from the political arena, too. Labour, while arguing that the deal will “trouble many fans”, has not called for it to be paused, and is instead demanding a new system of regulation as soon as possible, most likely based on the ongoing review into football governance led by the Tory MP and former sports minister Tracey Crouch.

Alison McGovern, the shadow sports minister, said: “This is ultimately a failure in the way that football is governed. Labour has called for a tough independent regulator for many years and the action we hope will come from the publication of the Crouch review cannot come soon enough.”

Downing Street and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have maintained a deliberately hands-off approach, with officials insisting that it is a matter for the Premier League, and that since the UK trades with Saudi Arabia it would be anomalous to ban the takeover of a football club.


HIPPOCRYTES!
 
Money and Greed has ruined football.
100 million for one player.
It's pathetic and Rashford bangs on about the government helping kids in poverty yet he's part of this Premier league circus. and his net worth alone is around 25 million.
These idiots in the Premier league could sort meals for kids etc but no it's far more important to throw millions upon millions at individual players.
The world we live in is mad.
Rashford should look at the industry he's in and maybe get them to support, could be some good PR.
But doubt these big clubs /players care.
 
borgelite said:
Money and Greed has ruined football.
100 million for one player.
It's pathetic and Rashford bangs on about the government helping kids in poverty yet he's part of this Premier league circus. and his net worth alone is around 25 million.
These idiots in the Premier league could sort meals for kids etc but no it's far more important to throw millions upon millions at individual players.
The world we live in is mad.
Rashford should look at the industry he's in and maybe get them to support, could be some good PR.
But doubt these big clubs /players care.
Click to expand...

Of all the people to have a go at you pick Rashford? Strange. The lads a class act and has done some superb work.
 
borgelite said:
Money and Greed has ruined football.
100 million for one player.
It's pathetic and Rashford bangs on about the government helping kids in poverty yet he's part of this Premier league circus. and his net worth alone is around 25 million.
These idiots in the Premier league could sort meals for kids etc but no it's far more important to throw millions upon millions at individual players.
The world we live in is mad.
Rashford should look at the industry he's in and maybe get them to support, could be some good PR.
But doubt these big clubs /players care.
Click to expand...
If Rashford wasn’t part of the circus he wouldn’t have a voice, he does and he uses it well.
 
borgelite said:
Money and Greed has ruined football.
100 million for one player.
It's pathetic and Rashford bangs on about the government helping kids in poverty yet he's part of this Premier league circus. and his net worth alone is around 25 million.
These idiots in the Premier league could sort meals for kids etc but no it's far more important to throw millions upon millions at individual players.
The world we live in is mad.
Rashford should look at the industry he's in and maybe get them to support, could be some good PR.
But doubt these big clubs /players care.
Click to expand...
Not sure it’s a bad thing that someone using their status to try and help others?
How do you know rashford isn’t trying to influence other things in the game?
 
Can’t help but feel there wouldn’t be any fuss if it was for a London club or North West club. Much as I think the takeover stinks and it’s disgraceful that it’s been allowed, you can’t set a precedent with other clubs then chuck your toys out of the pram when it happens to a club from the North East.
Reminds me a little of the days when we were splashing the cash on Juninho and Ravanelli and generating jealousy and anger as ‘cheeky northern upstarts’.
 
borgelite said:
Money and Greed has ruined football.
100 million for one player.
It's pathetic and Rashford bangs on about the government helping kids in poverty yet he's part of this Premier league circus. and his net worth alone is around 25 million.
These idiots in the Premier league could sort meals for kids etc but no it's far more important to throw millions upon millions at individual players.
The world we live in is mad.
Rashford should look at the industry he's in and maybe get them to support, could be some good PR.
But doubt these big clubs /players care.
Click to expand...
As others have said, not sure why you’ve singled out Rashford. Although there’s questions over some of his financial activities let’s call it, he (or rather his accountant) is not doing anything that most others won’t be doing. That doesn’t make it morally right, but he is using his position for good.

Re the Newcastle takeover, whilst I want it to all come crashing down, they’re only doing what lots of other clubs have done, and will no doubt do. The fact it’s a Saudi led consortium makes it worse, but many of these clubs need to take a look in the mirror before demanding an emergency meeting.
 
Last edited:
borgelite said:
Money and Greed has ruined football.
100 million for one player.
It's pathetic and Rashford bangs on about the government helping kids in poverty yet he's part of this Premier league circus. and his net worth alone is around 25 million.
These idiots in the Premier league could sort meals for kids etc but no it's far more important to throw millions upon millions at individual players.
The world we live in is mad.
Rashford should look at the industry he's in and maybe get them to support, could be some good PR.
But doubt these big clubs /players care.
Click to expand...
How dare those bloomin Saudis buy a prem club… ffs it’s all rashfords fault…

that has gotta be the most tenuous link ever to use to bash a guy that’s had the government on the ropes several times… give yer head a shake you balloon
 
uncle_rico said:
As others have said, not sure why you’ve singled out Rashford. Although there’s questions over some of his financial activities let’s call it, he (or rather his accountant) is not doing anything that most others won’t be doing. That doesn’t make it morally right, but he is using his position for good.

Re the Newcastle takeover, whilst I want it to all come crashing down, they’re only doing what lots of other clubs have done, and will no doubt do. The fact it’s a Saudi led consortium makes it worse, but many of these clubs need to take a look in the mirror before demanding an emergency meeting.
Click to expand...
Why the veiled attack on him?
 
GazC_MFC said:
Why the veiled attack on him?
Click to expand...
The point is the ridiculous money in the PL
100 million on one man, yet people are going hungary players earning hundreds of thousands a week.
That's my point, I'm not having ago at Rashford.
Anyone who thinks one individual is worth 100 million to kick a ball and be paid hundreds of thousands a week, these people the ballons.
 
borgelite said:
The point is the ridiculous money in the PL
100 million on one man, yet people are going hungary players earning hundreds of thousands a week.
That's my point, I'm not having ago at Rashford.
Anyone who thinks one individual is worth 100 million to kick a ball and be paid hundreds of thousands a week, these people the ballons.
Click to expand...

Drawing attention to the hypocrisy is right, but you singled him out as an example of the hypocrosy in the PL. Personally he is one of those that has used his profile for greater good and should be applauded.
 
borgelite said:
Money and Greed has ruined football.
100 million for one player.
It's pathetic and Rashford bangs on about the government helping kids in poverty yet he's part of this Premier league circus. and his net worth alone is around 25 million.
These idiots in the Premier league could sort meals for kids etc but no it's far more important to throw millions upon millions at individual players.
The world we live in is mad.
Rashford should look at the industry he's in and maybe get them to support, could be some good PR.
But doubt these big clubs /players care.
Click to expand...
That’s the government’s responsibility, not footballs
 
borgelite said:
Money and Greed has ruined football.
100 million for one player.
It's pathetic and Rashford bangs on about the government helping kids in poverty yet he's part of this Premier league circus. and his net worth alone is around 25 million.
These idiots in the Premier league could sort meals for kids etc but no it's far more important to throw millions upon millions at individual players.
The world we live in is mad.
Rashford should look at the industry he's in and maybe get them to support, could be some good PR.
But doubt these big clubs /players care.
Click to expand...
Why bring Marcus Rashford and free meals for kids into it?

Unless you've got an agenda of course.
 
uncle_rico said:
As others have said, not sure why you’ve singled out Rashford. Although there’s questions over some of his financial activities let’s call it, he (or rather his accountant) is not doing anything that most others won’t be doing. That doesn’t make it morally right, but he is using his position for good.

Re the Newcastle takeover, whilst I want it to all come crashing down, they’re only doing what lots of other clubs have done, and will no doubt do. The fact it’s a Saudi led consortium makes it worse, but many of these clubs need to take a look in the mirror before demanding an emergency meeting.
Click to expand...
What are the questions over Rashford's financial activities?
 
borgelite said:
The point is the ridiculous money in the PL
100 million on one man, yet people are going hungary players earning hundreds of thousands a week.
That's my point, I'm not having ago at Rashford.
Anyone who thinks one individual is worth 100 million to kick a ball and be paid hundreds of thousands a week, these people the ballons.
Click to expand...
What as 100 miion on one man and ridiculous money in the PL got to do with Marcus Rashford solely?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top