According to a football financial specialist, if the Premier League disciplined Newcastle United after “leaked” texts were discovered, “expulsion” would be “on the table.”
Mike Ashley’s tenure as Newcastle’s owner ended in 2021 when the Premier League team was taken up by a group headed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The Reuban Brothers and PCP Capital Partners acquired a 10% holding in Newcastle, while PIF acquired an 80% stake.
Although the Magpies were in danger of relegation at the time of their takeover, manager Eddie Howe has been in charge of their ascent in recent years, leading to their early return to the Champions League.
The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations have affected Newcastle in recent years, as the club has had a difficult 18 months.
There was a significant change in the summer when Paul Mitchell took Dan Ashworth’s place as sporting director and Amanda Staveley quit the team.
The Telegraph reported at the end of last week that “leaked WhatsApp messages” from Staveley “suggest” that Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, “pulled the strings” and oversaw Newcastle’s takeover.
The texts from Amanda Staveley, who facilitated the sale of the club to the Gulf Kingdom’s trillion-dollar Public Investment Fund (PIF) by businessman Mike Ashley, cast doubt on the assurances given to the Premier League in order to close the deal.
The Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, appears to have been approving important choices based on the cache of WhatsApp messages.
When the transaction went awry, Ms. Staveley told the sellers that “the Crown Prince is losing patience” and that the PIF governor was “trying to…convince the Crown Prince not to pull out.”
“The messages provide fresh insight into the level of political participation in the takeover.”
In response to this report, former Everton chairman Keith Wyness asserts that if the Premier League takes action, Newcastle’s only “on the table” punishment would be “expulsion.”
Wyness “doesn’t expect Newcastle to face any sanction,” though, because the team would only have to “prove” one thing to escape punishment.
Wyness told Football Insider, “It’s giving the Premier League another big problem at a time when they don’t needt i.”
“I’m not sure why they were released, but the Premier League is embarrassed once more. Although an investigation might be conducted, I don’t believe it will have a significant impact.
“I don’t think Newcastle will be sanctioned. I don’t think we’ll pursue the expulsion path, but the Premier League would have to consider either leaving the league or nothing.The only thing Newcastle would need to demonstrate is that PIF is managing the team on a daily basis, which they seem to be.
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