Magpies fury targets Prem

THE Premier League has been an easy scapegoat for Newcastle United’s summer of takeover frustration – attacked by fans and Mike Ashley.

An alternative opinion is that blame is shared elsewhere. The buying consortium – 80 per cent funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund – led by Amanda Staveley failed to smooth over the big issues before launching their bid.

Pretending it was bid leader Staveley to the rescue of Newcastle was never going to see it waved through to approval.

When there’s £305million of Saudi Arabian state money on the table, a host of snags emerge – even before you get on to human rights and ethics.

Cheerleader briefings that they were confident it could go through – including this week – stoked misplaced loyalty and expectation.

Did the consortium not twig that rampant TV piracy of Premier League games – and most other sports – in Saudi Arabia would be a huge problem? That’s where a deal-maker earns their 10 per cent.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters (above) has been the subject of a vitriolic social media campaign from some fans – and a spiteful, playing-to-the-mob jibe that he “acted inappropriately” from Ashley.

But the league has rightly asked questions about who would really control Newcastle after the takeover – and came to the only conclusion a sane person would reach.

That Saudi Arabia state would own the Toon and pull the strings. And sports-wash its murky international reputation. The cash was coming from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the state’s investment vehicle. It has ruling Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman as chairman and its own website details the government’s role.

Seven Saudi ministers are on the

PIF board – including one accused of promoting piracy. Yet the Toon consortium and Ashley – who just wants his cash – insist it is an independent entity. The Premier League wants this link acknowledged and the state made a director.