Premier League told Qatar links to Spurs investment should be a 'wake up call'

The Premier League has been told to urgently tighten up its ownership rules amid talk Qatar Sports Investments are interested in purchasing a minority stake in Tottenham.

Human rights group Amnesty International insist this week's reports regarding a meeting between Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and QSI chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi should act as a "wake-up call" for the Premier League following the controversial Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle in 2021.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund hold a majority stake in Newcastle through Amanda Staveley's consortium after it eventually passed the league's owners' and directors' test to complete its purchase of the club.

Criticism followed given Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record and its treatment of LGBTQ+ residents. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters admitted months after the takeover that a review of the ownership test was taking place.

Amnesty met with the Premier League last year regarding implementing a human rights component into the owners' and directors' test, but any changes are not yet at a stage where they would be ready to be voted through by its 20 members.

It opens the door for QSI to potentially invest in Tottenham or any other Premier League club.

QSI chairman Al-Khelaifi, who is also president of Paris St Germain, met with Levy in London last week but Tottenham deny any discussions over equity of the club occurred.

Nevertheless, Amnesty has warned any possible Qatari investment in Spurs would be more potential sportswashing.

Amnesty International UK's economic affairs director Peter Frankental said in a statement to the PA news agency: "Whether or not these talks are confirmed and actually lead to anything, this is another wake-up call to the Premier League to