Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has ‘concerns’ over Newcastle’s Saudi-led takeover
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer discusses the club takeover
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Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has raised concerns over the controversial takeover of Premier League rivals Newcastle. Amanda Staveley is fronting a consortium 80 per cent backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The group completed their long-awaited takeover last week after the Premier League was satisfied that PIF is separate to the Saudi state.
Several human rights groups have criticised the move as ‘sportswashing’, a phrase used when nations with perceived poor human rights records attempt to launder their reputations through sport. Newcastle have provided assurances that Saudi Arabia will not have control of the club.
Staveley has already made big promises, including telling Newcastle supporters that they can expect ‘world-class’ players to arrive at St. James’ Park.
Premier League managers were all asked about the takeover during their press conferences on Friday. Chelsea head coach Tuchel has conceded that he has concerns.
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“In general, yes, in general yes, and I think it’s normal to have concerns,” Tuchel said.
“But we trust the Premier League and they have accepted – they are the authorities in this case.
“This is a fact now that they allowed it, they have new owners, the new owners seem to be very promising for the fans and for a famous club here in England.
“And it seems that we have a new competitor for titles and for places in the top ranking, and this is what we are here for.
“We are playing in the toughest league, and it seems to get tougher.”
Amnesty International has called for an urgent meeting with the Premier League over its owners’ and directors’ test in the wake of the takeover.
“Whatever the result on Sunday, we wish Newcastle fans and their team well, but we remain deeply concerned about how our football clubs are being used for sportswashing,” Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s CEO, said.
He continued: “Despite assurances about a supposed separation from the Saudi state, ownership of St James’ Park is now very much about image management for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his government.
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“As the season progresses we hope fans, players and Newcastle United backroom staff will look seriously at the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.
“We’d like to see Tracey Crouch’s forthcoming review into football governance accepting the case for strengthening the owners’ and directors’ rules, to make them human rights-compliant and prevent those implicated in serious human rights violations from buying their way into English football.”
Staveley strongly denies claims of sportswashing.
“We are buying a club that could be relegated next week,” she told Reuters.
“If we were thinking about this as being some type of sportswashing exercise we would have made different choices.”
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