Many Newcastle United fans have flocked to Twitter to respond to a tweet from Richard Keys regarding the reasons the Saudi-backed consortium decided to pull out of the proposed takeover of the club.
The group had agreed a £300m deal to purchase the club from Mike Ashley but after lengthy delays with regards to the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test, it’s understood that the buyers ran out of patience (as per BBC Sport).
Keys, in his tweet, claims the Saudis are the ones responsible for the takeover not being completed and that piracy was the issue which meant the authorities were unable to give the deal the green light.
Here is how some of the St. James’ Park faithful have responded.
You seriously expect anyone to believe that Qatar hasn’t been at it again. They bribed FIFA to steal a World Cup bid and from where we sit they’ve been at it again. It doesn’t take 17 weeks to filibuster a bid if piracy is the reason. @premierleague are corrupt cowards
— Martin Johnson (@MartinJohnson10) August 1, 2020
It wasn’t a failed bid they walked away
— York magpie (@ddy2121) August 1, 2020
Come on, Richard.
We all know it’s as fixed as American wrestling. It’s just a story with a script now.
Thursdays news confirmed that and it’s why I’ve cancelled my Sky. Which perversely I think you would actually be quite pleased with….
— The__Farmster (@The__Farmster) August 1, 2020
Do you think the piracy issue is what ultimately prevented the takeover going through?
Yes
No
It’s clear from the above responses that these Newcastle fans disagree strongly with what Keys has had to say with regards to what led to the delays that ultimately saw the takeover collapse.
The whole of Tyneside is reeling and you tweet this!!?? You could have at least waited a couple of days Shame on you!!!
— Alan B NUFC (@BROWEA) August 1, 2020
But the corrupt @premierleague haven’t said anything Richard, how do you 100% know that it had anything to do with piracy, Amanda said it wasn’t & she has inside information but you on the other hand should not know anything unless your mate violated the NDA??
— Andre Kanutula (@AfricanGoerdie) August 1, 2020
then why didnt the premier league block it, they sat on it for 17 weeks and refused to give a yes or no
thats why were angry, the premier league hiding behind confidentiality when every qatarian and there dog was privy to it— Rich Nesbitt (@bignes1080) August 1, 2020
The Premier League have declined to comment but according to BBC Sport, they were unable to establish who would have control of the club, where funding would come from and who would appoint the board. Contrary to Keys’ comments, there has been nothing official to confirm the piracy issue has been the deciding factor.