21,500 sign petition set for parliament
MP TO TAKE PETITION ON THE PREMIER LEAGUE TO PARLIAMENT
PARLIAMENT is to receive a petition signed by 21,500 people calling for greater transparency from the Premier League, following the collapse of the Newcastle United takeover.
Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah will present the petition tonight.
It was signed online by 21,500 people since its launch last month, and highlights concerns over the unaccountability and lack of transparency from the Premier League to football fans.
Ms Onwurah said: “This petition shows the determination of Newcastle United supporters and concerned football fans across the country who want to see greater transparency.
“Football clubs are an important part of a city’s cultural identity and local economy, but fans don’t get any say on who owns their club. The Premier League’s takeover process lacks transparency, accountability and consistency and fans feel they have no voice. The Government must now act on its manifesto promise of a fan-led review into the structure of our national game.”
An earlier petition on the change.org website, calling for an independent investigation into the Premier League’s takeover process, attracted more than 110,000 signatures. Petitions presented to Parliament must follow a specific format, requiring Ms Onwurah to start a separate one in order to draw attention to the strength of feeling in the House of Commons.
The Premier League has been under fire following the withdrawal of a £300m takeover offer for Newcastle, which collapsed in July after the process dragged on for more than four months.
It failed either to approve or reject a bid from a consortium including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, PCP Capital
Partners and the Reuben Brothers. The consortium said at the time: “Ultimately, during the unforeseeably prolonged process, the commercial agreement between the Investment Group and the club’s owners expired and our investment thesis could not be sustained.” Saudi Arabia’s critics had highlighted claims about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and accusations of TV piracy.