Fans of Newcastle United have been reacting to a post on Twitter, which relays reports of BeIN’s return to screens across Saudi Arabia.
The news comes following the World Trade Organisation’s findings that Saudi Arabia ‘broke intellectual-property rules when it failed to crack down on pirated Qatari television broadcasts‘.
BeoutQ – a television service that appeared to surface in 2017, shortly after Saudi Arabia cut all diplomatic ties with Qatar – broadcast an identical schedule to Qatari-based BeIN, and even featured the same commentary as the ‘original’ broadcast during football matches.
However, following the World Trade Organisation’s investigation into the beoutQ service, that found the broadcaster ‘operated under Saudi jurisdiction and retransmitted content produced by Qatar-based sports broadcaster BeIN,’ Bloomberg reports that BeIN’s broadcasts have now returned to screens across Saudi Arabia, while the beoutQ service is ‘no longer widely available’.
In reaction to this news, which was relayed on Twitter by NUFC 360, fans of Newcastle have flocked to have their say on the matter. many suggested that the news is positive for the club’s ongoing Saudi-backed takeover bid.
Surely that’s the piracy sorted then?
— Harry (@ftblHarryy) June 17, 2020
Very good news
— Jack (@jchaytor16) June 17, 2020
Holy moly breakthrough
— kieran (@kingkie1994) June 17, 2020
While the news would appear to be positive regarding the takeover of Newcastle, it could be argued that the legal return of BeIN’s broadcasts to Saudi screens is too little too late, as BeIN chief executive Yousef Al-Obaidly correctly pointed out, the beoutQ service has already “caused huge damage to your club’s and the Premier League’s commercial revenues.”
This fact could potentially cause Newcastle’s potential new owners to fail the Premier League’s owner’s and director’s test, which could then put the takeover in a position of jeopardy.
Do you think that the Saudi-backed Toon takeover is more likely to be approved now?
YES
NO
However, this does not seem to have concerned the Newcastle fans, many more of whom have rejoiced the news that BeIN has returned to Saudi Arabia.
This could be potentially massive. There’s no reason they’d do it unless it would be a part of the conditions of the PL…if the deal was dead in the water they’d surely not bother?
— John Miller (@growing_turnips) June 17, 2020
Get those 48 cans of Stella ready. ?
— Norm (@westy19840) June 17, 2020
This would be absolutely massive if it’s correct….??
— Paul Sutcliffe (@PaulSutcliffe80) June 17, 2020
Here we go lads, Saudis are pulling out all the stops here
— Nick899???????? (@CNick89) June 17, 2020
With the Premier League still yet to release an update on the progression of the takeover since the World Trade Organisation’s ruling regarding Saudi Arabia’s involvement in broadcast piracy, unfortunately for Newcastle fans, the wait regarding the takeover appears not to be over just yet.