Top-level meetings ...over the takeover that didn’t happen
Emails show how United saga ruffled feathers in Whitehall:
THE British government believed a decision on the Saudi-funded Newcastle United takeover was just hours away in June 2020 – and had organised a top-level Whitehall meeting in anticipation.
In emails sent to the Premier League, officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) stated several times that sources believed a decision was ‘imminent.’
Within the emails, the Premier League stated that the takeover had left them in ‘new terrority’ when it came to making a decision.
After a six-month battle to have the emails released to the public, The Chronicle can finally reveal the following:
APRIL 21, 2020
The Premier League confirmed the beginning of the owners and directors test – stating that they would go through all of the ‘rigorous processes looking at the PIF [Saudi Public Invesment Fund] and the individuals named as directors.’
In the same email chain, of which some details have been redacted, the Premier League say they have spoken to the Saudi desk of the Foreign Office.
Interestingly, this part of the email has been blanked out.
The DCMS told The Chronicle this is because they are ‘continuing to use the information at issue here to inform the development of our ongoing policy and we, therefore, contend that to release the information would put undue pressure on the foreign policy-making process by opening it up to intense public scrutiny and speculation.’
The DCMS added: “This would result in decisions being continuously questioned.
“This intense scrutiny may result in decisions being taken, that are made simply to avoid adverse public backlash rather than to further the quality of the policy.
“This is clearly not in the public interest, nor would it represent an efficient use of public money.”
In the chain, the DCMS are seen to be drawing up a statement on the matter AND ask the Premier League if there is anything they’d ‘suggest’ or ‘be comfortable with’ in terms of a ‘public line if raised by the select committee.’
That select committee took place the following day in which secretary of state Oliver Dowden was quizzed on the takeover – and seemingly shared a view that the PIF and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman were separate entities.
JUNE 12, 2020
The DCMS asked the Premier League to confirm or deny a decision on the takeover was imminent.
The Premier League responded that day, telling the DCMS that they are ‘on a call’ regarding the matter, and that ‘confidentially, we are not expecting a decision today nor imminently.’
The Premier League confirmed it had also kept the Foreign Office up to date with proceedings and would provide an update later that day. If that update occurred, it is not included in the documents seen by The Chronicle.
JUNE 19, 2020
The DCMS sent an email citing departmental sources who believed a decision could be made that day. The email noted that the secretary of state was set to feature on BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions later in the day and ‘so it would obviously be good to have a heads up.’ The Premier League responds to the email, writing: “There is not going to be any decision today – so not sure where that is coming from.”
It reiterates its intention to give the DCMS, FCO and Department for International Trade ‘good notice’ of any decision.
JUNE 21, 2020
4.35pm: The DCMS wrote to the Premier League with the understanding that a decision is ‘imminent now.’
It noted that there is a ‘senior cross Whitehall’ meeting on June 22 on the topic of Saudi Arabia and asks for an update from the Premier League in advance.
An email sent an hour later notes that the meeting taking place will be attended by only those at ‘deputy director level’ for the FCO, DIT, DCMS and the Cabinet Office. 9.01pm: The Premier League confirmed that a decision on the takeover was ‘possible’ the following day, so it is ‘worth letting people know that a meeting may be needed.’
But it does state that ‘not for the first time, it is also possible that some further time will be deemed necessary should the board feel that the information they have received is still incomplete or needs more time to examine.’
It adds that there ‘is no set time in which a decision will be made’ and that it ‘would like’ to let all the relevant government departments know what the decision is as soon as it is taken.
The email then states ‘inevitably, that means a bit of the Grand Old Duke of York routine is likely, but we are in new territory with this case and the timings remain uncertain.’
That is where the email chain – other than a reference to the letters from Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah and the subsequent response from the Premier League – ends. We asked the Premier League
to clarify why a decision was said to be possible and then not, what is meant by the Grand Old Duke of York reference, why the Premier League wanted to keep the DMCS in the loop – and if this was normal practice for all Premier League takeovers.
The Premier League refused to comment.
We asked the DCMS the following questions:
■ What was or what was expected to be discussed in the high-level meeting?
■ What concerns, if any, did it have over a potential Saudi Arabia takeover of the club?
■ What was its overall view on the takeover?
■ Does the secretary of state believe the PIF and Crown Prince are separate entities?
The DCMS told us that we would have to put in a further freedom of information request for the first two questions, and for questions three and four referred us back to a statement made in July 2020 in which Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said he was ‘very uncomfortable with the level of expectation of involvement on government with things that are very clearly decisions for football.’
The consortium trying to take over Newcastle was also adamant that a decision was close – and while there is no suggestion in the email chain seen by The Chronicle which way the decision was to fall, it is clear that Amanda Staveley’s confidence, at least in a decision being imminent, was not as unfounded as some believed it to be.
It is also interesting to note the high level of meeting set up to deal with a potential decision and the fact those who would take part in such a meeting were spread across several different government departments.
Despite the government’s constant line that the takeover was a matter for the Premier League, Newcastle United and the consortium, the documents show yet again that Whitehall was not silent in the process.
Furthermore, the reference by the Premier League that the takeover has left them in ‘new territory’ could be viewed as an admission by the top flight that their own owners and directors test is no fit for purpose.
The consortium pulled the deal on July 30, 2020 but remain interested in completing it.
Mike Ashley has taken the Premier League to arbitration over the matter.