Kieran Maguire slams Masters after empty ‘threat’ aimed at PIF and Newcastle
Richard Masters would be better off spending his time “looking after the interests of fans” than going after the Newcastle United owners.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about recent remarks made by the Premier League chief executive.
Masters was forced to green-light the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund’s takeover in October (2021) after months of legal wrangling.
The deal was passed when it was found that PIF had no formal links to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia itself.
As per the Evening Standard last Sunday (28 November), Masters warned: “If we find evidence to the contrary, we can remove the consortium.”
But Maguire insists that Masters’ comments represent an empty threat and that the PIF are on a secure legal footing in their ownership of the club.
“He would say that, wouldn’t he,” he told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“The Premier League spent two years looking into PIF and reached the conclusion that there was no evidence of state involvement.
“If you can’t find it in two years, it’s difficult to imagine them finding it now. So I don’t think it’s a threat that carries much weight.
“In theory, they’ll now be spending that time looking after the long-term interests of fans, or even the short-term interests of fans.”
Relegation-threatened Newcastle are currently at odds with the Premier League over related-party sponsorship.
The top-flight imposed a temporary ban on related-party deals until at least 14 December in a perceived effort to restrict the Magpies’ January spending.
In other news, pundit tells Newcastle United to sell Ciaran Clark in January after “dressing room” raging.