Kieran Maguire reveals what Newcastle United really think about Saudi teams in Champions League
Newcastle United will be ‘relaxed’ about Saudi Arabian teams potentially playing in the Champions League.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Saudi Pro League would face multiple objections if they were allowed to compete in European competition.
European Club Association chairman, Nasser al-Khelaifi, has stated that there are no plans to let Saudi teams enter the Champions League despite growing rumours.
Should teams from the Saudi Pro League be allowed to compete in the competition in the future, Newcastle could face issues around potential conflict of interest because of their ownership.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns majority stakes in a number of Saudi clubs, which would cause issues if they were to face Newcastle in a competitive match.
However, Maguire believes Saudi Arabia are currently happy to consider Newcastle as their only team competing in the Champions League.
“The only way that clubs from the Saudi Pro League are ever going to compete in the Champions League is if an awful lot of money is paid for the privilege,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“Even then, there will likely be objections given that there aren’t any financial regulations in the Saudi Pro League which would give their clubs a significant advantage.
“So I think Newcastle United will be fairly relaxed.
“To a certain extent, Newcastle are Saudi Arabia’s team in the Champions League and therefore all the focus will be on the Geordies and their matches taking place in the competition this season.“
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