Letter to The Premier League re Saudi Arabia PIB takeover of Newcastle United

Mr Richard Masters
Chief Executive
The Premier League
57 North Wharf Road
London W2 1 HQ

20 April 2020

Dear Mr Masters,

Re: Saudi Arabia PIB takeover of Newcastle United

I am writing to you about the proposed acquisition of Newcastle United Football Club (NUFC) by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. I want to draw your attention to the wider context of this takeover in so far as it relates to Amnesty International’s human rights concerns and to the Premier League’s Owners and Directors Test.

While Saudi Arabia would not be the only country whose businesses have bought a significant stake in a Premier League Club, there are two aspects of the proposed acquisition that would set this apart. First, Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy in which the Crown Prince plays the role of King and has control of all economic, political and foreign relations. With oversight of the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, it is very unlikely that an important business transaction such as the takeover of a Premiership Club could happen without his authorisation.

More significantly, the Crown Prince has been using sporting events and personalities as a means of improving the Kingdom’s reputation following the grisly murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi – widely believed to have taken place with his approval. Such positive associations with sporting events also distract attention from Saudi’s appalling human rights record, including the imprisonment and torture of women human rights defenders — women like Loujain al-Hathloul – for advocating for equal rights and an end to discrimination.

I believe there are serious questions to address in determining whether the owners and directors of the company seeking to acquire NUFC are meeting standards that can protect the reputation and image of the game. If the Crown Prince, by virtue of his authority over Saudi Arabia’s economic relations and via control of his country’s sovereign wealth fund, becomes the beneficial owner of NUFC, how can this be positive for the reputation and image of the Premier League?

So long as these questions remain unaddressed, the Premier League is putting itself at risk of becoming a patsy of those who want to use the glamour and prestige of Premier League football to cover up actions that are deeply immoral, in breach of international law and at odds with the values of the Premier League and the global footballing community.

Yours sincerely,

Kate Allen,
Director Amnesty International UK

Related news

Saudi Arabia: Migrant Domestic Workers Face Severe Exploitation, Racism and Exclusion from Labour Protections

Saudi Arabia: Migrant Domestic Workers Face Severe Exploitation, Racism and Exclusion from Labour Protections

Locked in, left out: the hidden lives of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia Kenyan women hired as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia endure gruelling, abusive and discriminatory working conditions, which often amount to forced labour and human trafficking, Amnesty International said in a new report. The report highlights how employers subjected the women to […]

READ MORE

Dr. Kathleen Cravero Appointed as Board Chair of the Sport & Rights Alliance

Dr. Kathleen Cravero Appointed as Board Chair of the Sport & Rights Alliance

Coalition Welcomes Former Top UN Official and Philanthropy Leader (Amsterdam, 30 April 2025) – The Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kathleen Cravero as its new Board Chair. Bringing over three decades of experience championing child rights, gender equity, and coalition building, Kathleen joins the SRA at a […]

READ MORE

Related resources

Aerial shot of four crew rowers on teal water with Title: Behind the Statistics with blue highlight and eyebrow header above

Episode 2: “Behind the Statistics”

Understanding the data on abuse in sports Watch the second episode of our three-part series exploring scientific data on violence in sports: “Behind the Statistics.” In this video, we dive into prevalence studies and associated factors that put some groups of athletes at higher risk. Led by Dr Aurelie Pankowiak, postdoctoral researcher at the Institute […]

READ MORE

Video Series: “This is Not Part of the Game.”

Video Series: “This is Not Part of the Game.”

Exploring the research on violence in sports Watch the first of our three-part video series exploring scientific data on violence in sports: “This is Not Part of the Game.” Led by Dr Aurelie Pankowiak, postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Health & Sport at Victoria Universityand athlete survivor from France, this project aims to collate […]

READ MORE

“I know for whom I’m fighting every day.”

“I know for whom I’m fighting every day.”

Recap: Advocacy Tools & Strategies for Advancing the Rights of Impacted People On October 24th, the Athletes Network for Safer Sports held its third capacity-building online workshop on advocacy skills and strategies for impacted athletes and allies. Moderated by Joanna Maranhão and joined by over 30 participants, the discussion centered on our panelists’ experiences advocating […]

READ MORE

Join the Network

Sport has the potential to be a catalyst for human development, unity, and freedom, but too often it instead brings harm to its athletes, fans, and communities. We exist to uncover and rectify the many abuses that exist both in and around sport. We aim to transform sports into an authentic force for good.