PL reply to calls to halt United deal

THE Premier League have replied to Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée Hatice Cengiz, who has lobbied English football’s authorities to block Newcastle United’s proposed takeover by a consortium backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

Cengiz has spoken out against the proposed takeover, arguing Mohammad Bin Salman would be buying legitimacy if the PiF was allowed to proceed with the buyout.

In a pre-prepared statement she claimed the murder of her fiancé had damaged Bin Salman and the Newcastle takeover was an attempt to rectify that.

Khashoggi’s brutal murder in 2018 at the Turkish embassy sparked global outrage.

Western intelligence agencies believe Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder, a claim he has denied.

Cengiz said: “Moral values should prevail.

“My message would be to the management of Newcastle United and to the decisionmakers.

“We should consider ethical values, not just financial or political ones. Money cannot buy everything in the world.

“So the message which will be given to people like the Crown Prince is extremely important.

“There should be no place in English football for those credibly accused of atrocities and murder.”

She added: “This deal seems to be about buying something but there is a wider picture.

“Saudi Arabia shows the world its face of reform but it has another face where the reality is far from what is shown to the world.

“This is why we want this deal to be stopped.”

The Premier League have yet to respond publicly to questions about the takeover or Cengiz’s concerns.

However, the BBC has reported a reply from Richard Masters, the Chief Executive of the Premier League.

His letter says “due processes are required by UK law and by the Premier League’s own rules” which “go beyond those required by UK company law” and are “applied with rigour.”

Masters also says he “appreciates the strength of feeling” and also passed on his condolences to Cengiz.