A lot of Newcastle United fans have replied to a post from Luke Edwards which claims that he has heard that the World Trade Organisation’s report on the links between piracy and Saudi Arabia ‘condemns Saudi Arabia in the strongest possible terms.’
The Daily Telegraph reporter followed this up with various jokingly positive tweets after the negative reaction that his post received from some Toon fans.
The WTO’s findings have been with the Premier League for a while and were made public since Edwards’ tweet, which suggested that it does not look good for the Saudis.
This has not gone down well with many Toon fans with some predicting the takeover would collapse, and others ripping into Edwards.
Are you worried by the WTO report?
Yes
No
I mean I’m pessimistic but you Luke just flat out don’t want this #nufctakeover to happen
— Hollie Taylor (@Geordie_Hollie7) June 16, 2020
3 weeks now I have been saying this deal will be blocked – sorry to say that today it may be confirmed as blocked
— Michael Parry (@MickP1964) June 16, 2020
Nor have you seen the report or understand what the PL and buyers are discussing. More scaremongering at any given opportunity.
— Nikos ?? (@Nikos_NUFC) June 16, 2020
Bet your pleased Luke?
— Delboy E ???? (@dedwards1892) June 16, 2020
This is what the premier league have been waiting for. It’s over.
— Paul Johnson (@johnsonP1977) June 16, 2020
The deal for Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed takeover has been with the Premier League going through the required checks, and the concerns over piracy were forcing the Premier League to take their time, and now the findings of this report look to be negative for the takeover.
However, this has still not stopped some Toon fans from feeling confident about the deal.
WTO report will have no bearing on the decision
— toony (@ColinWi73944579) June 16, 2020
I’m still not worried
— tonynufc1 (@tonynufc18) June 16, 2020
The main issue appears to be a direct link between the Saudi government and a piracy station called BeoutQ.
It has been suggested that for the Premier League to allow this takeover to go through, they will want some concessions from Saudi Arabia.
These could include shutting down BeoutQ and unblocking beIN Sports.
Now that this report is about to go public, Mark Douglas feels like we are ‘reaching endgame’ of this takeover.
However, the league have had this information from the WTO’s report since May, so maybe they have considered it already?
Either way, it feels like a conclusion to this takeover saga is edging closer.