Last update on. From the section Newcastle
Since 2007, Newcastle has been owned by Mike Ashley
After Qatar resolved the TV piracy dispute, the Saudi Arabian-backed takeover bid for Newcastle United may be closer.
The Kingdom is set to lift the four-and-a half-year ban on beIN Sports. It will also cease illegally showing Premier League and other matches via beoutQ.
This issue was part of a dispute between Newcastle Premier League and Newcastle over a 300m takeover, which fell in 2020.
The test was to determine if the Saudi owners would pass league's directors' and owners' tests, which assess the suitability of club owners.
The arbitration scheduled for 3 January will focus on whether or not the Saudi state will sit on the Newcastle board. This would be a test on allegations of human rights violations.
A significant obstacle is removed by the end of TV piracy complaints which would be in violation of Premier League rules.
Analyse
Dan Roan, BBC Sports Editor
The Premier League was asked by beIN Sport, one of its largest international broadcast partners, to "fully investigate" Newcastle United's 300 million takeover by a Saudi-backed consortium. This was due to alleged piracy of its TV Rights.
Although the Saudi government has always denied wrongdoings, this apparent settlement with Qatar TV appears to have removed a major hurdle to the controversial deal.
There are still other issues.
Saudi Arabia's record in human rights is still a concern.
Then there is the question of who would run Newcastle Utd, if the deal were approved.
The Premier League did not give its approval for the takeover after its lawyers couldn't clarify the connections between PIF, a sovereign wealth fund that would have owned most Newcastle United, and the Saudi state.
Premier League was concerned about the possibility that people not on the new board of the club would have influence over decisions at St James' Park. This is not surprising considering the Saudi Crown Prince is also chairman of PIF.
Sources close to the consortium claimed that they tried to convince the Premier League that they would not have any say in the running of the club. It appears they will need to continue doing so if they want to salvage a deal.
In June 2020, a World Trade Organisation report on privacy violations in TV broadcasting was published. It stated that Saudi Arabia had helped to break international piracy laws.
In August 2020, Richard Masters, chief executive of the Premier League, stated in a letter that intellectual property rights are "critically important for the league's business interests."
Last week, Newcastle's Competition Appeal Tribunal raised the connection between BeIN Sports and the takeover. Lawyers alleged that the Qatari broadcaster had "improperly influence" the Premier League to block the takeover on the basis of its agreement to show matches.
Daniel Jowell QC was the one who claimed for St James Holdings. St James Holdings is a club owner and wholly owns shares in Newcastle.
The decision is still to be made.
BeIN Sports is currently in the middle a 400m deal to broadcast Premier League games in North Africa and the Middle East over three years.
The Premier League declined to comment.
