Rights group calls on PL to improve policy

HUMAN Rights Watch has called for the Premier League to adopt a “comprehensive human rights policy” as it mulls over the proposed takeover of Newcastle United.

The non-governmental organisation has urged the Premier League to consider the human rights record in Saudi Arabia in their decision-making process over the Magpies bid.

Months have passed since PCP Capital Partners’ bid for the club reached the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test stage.

Spearheaded by financier Amanda Staveley, the consortium also has the backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the Reuben brothers, Simon and David. However, the human rights record of Saudi Arabia has frequently been brought into question in recent months.

Human Rights Watch and fellow human rights organisation FairSquare confirmed they both wrote to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters in June, outlining their concerns.

However, the groups were left dissatisfied with the “short responses” which they feel did not address their concerns.

Benjamin Ward, UK director at the NGO, said: “The Premier League shouldn’t leave FIFA’s human rights policy to one side and ignore Saudi human rights abuses as it considers the sale of one of its clubs to the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Adopting a comprehensive human rights policy and including human rights as a criterion for evaluating potential buyers of football clubs would set a positive example.”

James Lynch, founding director of FairSquare, said: “The drawn-out saga of the Newcastle takeover bid has exposed the inadequacies of the Premier League’s current arrangements for assessing and managing human rights risks.”