Premier League urged to review Saudi Arabia-Newcastle deal

The Premier League was urged Thursday to review a legally binding promise made by the owners of English soccer club Newcastle in 2021 that Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund was separate from the country's government.

An American court document filed by lawyers for Saudi-backed LIV Golf in a case against the PGA Tour revealed this week claimed the Public Investment Fund should be regarded as "a foreign state."

The document appeared to contradict a legal assurance accepted by the Premier League when a protracted takeover of Newcastle was completed in October 2021 with PIF having an 80 per cent ownership stake.

At that time, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told the BBC in an interview the Saudi state would not control Newcastle and, if this was proved untrue, "we can remove the consortium as owners."

Human rights group Amnesty International, which campaigned against the takeover deal, said Thursday it should be looked at again.

"The Premier League will surely need to re-examine the assurances made about the non-involvement of the Saudi authorities in the Newcastle deal," Amnesty economic affairs director Peter Frankental said in a statement.

The Premier League on Thursday declined to comment on the issue.

The 300 million pound ($358 million US) takeover was popular with most Newcastle fans. The club has moved from the Premier League's relegation zone 17 months ago to contending for a place in the Champions League this season. In some games, the team has worn a white and green jersey like the Saudi national team.

In the United States court case, lawyers for LIV Golf argued that PIF and its governor, Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, were "not ordinary third parties" and should be exempted from some