In the latest episode of the True Faith podcast, host Alex Hurst spoke to Dr Neil Quilliam, an associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme with Chatham House.
The podcast’s main aim was to discuss why Newcastle have been targeted by the PIF and the difficult relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Quilliam shed some light on why Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is interested in acquiring a stake in the club.
Here is what Dr Quilliam had to say about the PIF’s potential acquisition of Newcastle United:
“Newcastle Football Club very much fits in with its desire to create a new portfolio of assets and investments, and it also represents part of Saudi Arabia’s bid to deepen ties between our two countries, which are already quite deep and multi-dimensional.
“It’s also part of Saudi Arabia’s push for soft power, it’s seen its neighbours, the United Arab Emirates, buying into Manchester City, and it’s seen Qatar buying PSG, so it forms part of a wider competition amongst the Gulf Arab states to buy clubs effectively in Europe.”
Dr Quilliam speaks very eloquently throughout the podcast, and he seems to have identified two reasons why PIF want the Toon.
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We think that any Newcastle fan who wants to know more about this subject should listen to this podcast, as Dr Quilliam explains it brilliantly.
The deal for Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed takeover is still with the Premier League going through the required checks.
Still, apparently a decision is now days away, and it is going to be a positive one for Newcastle fans.
It seems as if the UK government has stepped in and swayed the PL to accept the deal, while Saudi Arabia has also announced a crackdown on piracy.
So, if their takeover of Newcastle is approved, Saudi Arabia would have completed its aims of deepening ties with the UK and joined its Gulf neighbours in owning a European football club.