Newcastle takeover: Keith Wyness hits out as messages leaked
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has accused the Premier League of “going through a charade” over the Saudi-backed takeover at Newcastle.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed he is unsure why top-flight chiefs needed assurances about the Saudi government’s involvement as states are allowed to control clubs in the current rulebook.
Messages leaked by The Telegraph (20 October) show Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, personally controlled the takeover of Newcastle by the state’s sovereign wealth fund (PIF).
The Magpies were eventually sold £305million after the Premier League was given “legally binding assurances” that the PIF was separate from the Saudi state.
PIF now own 80 per cent of Newcastle, who have seen success and Champions League qualification since the takeover.
Wyness hits out over controversial Newcastle leak – ‘it’s a charade’
Wyness insisted it was always “obvious” that the Saudi state would play a big role at Newcastle.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “When I saw the headlines it was interesting, to say the least.
“Before the takeover, the Saudis had been pirating the signal from Qatar for Premier League games.
“Bein Sports were the rights holders, but the Saudis named their service beoutQ – which was a bit cheeky.
“That was the problem. How could the Premier League sanction an owner who had been committing piracy on the Premier League signal?
“Once that was resolved, somehow the Premier League wanted clarity that PIF would control Newcastle – not the Saudi state.
“Now, there’s nothing in the rulebook which says a state cannot control a club.
“I don’t know why they needed that clarity. It seemed obvious to everybody that the crown prince would have a big say in running the club because he is the chairman of PIF.
“It’s an old story, but this has shown the Premier League have gone through a bit of a charade.
“It’s giving them another major problem at a time when they don’t need it. It has not been handled well.”
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