CRUNCH TYNE FOR TOON BID Premier League under pressure to block £300m sale to Saudi ‘pirates’

THE Premier League is under increased pressure to block the takeover of Newcastle.

A £300million deal for the Saudi state to buy the Toon is in the balance after the World Trade Organization linked them with TV piracy of Premier League games and a host of other sporting events.

The Premier League was told it would be “acting inconsistently with its own decisions and factual evidence” if they let the Saudis take an 80 per cent stake in the Tyneside club.

Top-flight chiefs have spent the last 11 weeks deciding whether to approve the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s purchase from unpopular Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley (right).

Premier League lawyers and executives gave the WTO a cache of evidence against

Saudi pirate operation beoutq, which produced three million set-top boxes to rip off coverage of football for the Middle East and North Africa markets.

The WTO yesterday published a damning report about the piracy which damaged the Premier League and other major sports organisations including FIFA, UEFA, the Bundesliga, La Liga, the BBC and Wimbledon.

The WTO ordered: “...that Saudi Arabia bring its measures into conformity with its obligations,” in a

123-page report on the issue.

It leaves the

Premier League with a major problem approving the takeover of Newcastle.

It would mean allowing a state they have accused of illegal activity and devaluing their broadcast rights, for three years, to become owners and shareholders in the league.

The WTO reports a breach of international law with the stealing of sports broadcast rights, and promotion by the Saudis of their TV channel beoutq. And also that they blocked attempts to launch legal cases against the piracy in Saudi Arabian courts and did not act themselves to stop it. The Premier League refused to comment yesterday on the report or the takeover, but UEFA said: “What is clear is that beoutq’s broadcasts constitute piracy of UEFA’S matches and, as such, are illegal. “Beoutq was hosted on frequencies transmitted by Arabsat and was promoted and carried out by individuals and entities subject to Saudi Arabia’s jurisdiction. “UEFA will go to great lengths to protect its property and support its partners, whose investment in football helps it to remain the world’s most popular sport from grassroots to elite level. Piracy not only threatens that investment, but also the existence of professional sport.”

Victims of the piracy, including Qatar-based bein Sports who pay to broadcast the Premier League in the Middle East and North Africa, are set to argue that if the Premier League lets Saudi Arabia buy Newcastle they will be “acting inconsistently with its own decisions and factual evidence as part of the WTO proceedings”.

The ripping-off of sporting TV coverage has cost legitimate rights holders hundreds of millions of pounds over the last three years. It continues on IPTV apps.

The Saudi courts and lawyers refused to allow the Premier League and others to launch claims in their courts.

BRENDAN RODGERS told his highflying Leicester squad of the ‘critical mentality’ needed in the run-in. The Foxes return to action at Watford on Saturday and could face 12 matches in 43 days with nine in the Premier League and potentially three more in the FA Cup. (left), whose side were in third place before the shutdown, said: “We can’t wait to continue the season and hopefully finish strongly. “I genuinely think the mindset going into this part of the season is going to be absolutely critical. “I had a short presentation with the players. We are in a fantastic position, and have a great chance to show what our values are as a squad based around unity, spirit and responsibility.”