I actually think when push comes to shove, the council might take the hit for the demolition costs on the stadium, just to get their hands on the land, its actually a massive piece of very valuable real estate in the centre of the city, very rarely do plots like this become available for development. If only they had somebody involved who were experts in this kind of redevelopment, like those Reuben Brothers perhaps. Oh, howld on a second...………..
It's actually owned by the Freemen of the City which further complicates it. When. John Hall was there he tried to bully the Council into taking the stadium as a venue thereby avoiding massive demolition costs. The Council refused because they new the new NUFC ground would compete for any groups, exhibitions, sporting events such as the rugby.
Khashoggi fiancee: stop Saudi takeover of Newcastle United or be complicit Hatice Cengiz tells Premier League the proposed deal is incompatible with its charter Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington Published:17:16 Tue 28 April 2020 Follow Stephanie Kirchgaessner The fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi has called on the Premier League to stop the acquisition of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia, saying that completion of the deal would tarnish English football and make it complicit in the “cover-up” of the journalist’s murder by the kingdom. In a letter sent by her solicitors, Hatice Cengiz also challenged whether the £300m takeover of a majority stake in Newcastle by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was compatible with the Premier League’s charter. The charter prohibits a club from being controlled by an individual who has engaged in conduct that would be “an offence” if it had occurred in the UK. Cengiz’s lawyer, Rodney Dixon QC, said: “The proposed acquisition is not just ‘business’ for the crown prince and the Saudi authorities, but an attempt to evade justice and international scrutiny for an unconscionable act. It would emasculate the Premier League’s core principles and rules, and ruin its good reputation and character, to allow the crown prince and the Saudi authorities to use this acquisition to seek to repair their international standing.” The Premier League declined a request for comment. Khashoggi, a US-based journalist for the Washington Post, was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. Khashoggi had entered the consulate to retrieve documents he needed to marry Cengiz, who has emerged as a strong voice in support of justice after his murder. An investigation by Agnès Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, found that Saudi Arabia was responsible under human rights law for the murder of Khashoggi and that it was “inconceivable” the operation that resulted in his death could not have been implemented without the crown prince being aware a criminal mission was being launched against the journalist. In the letter to the Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, Dixon said there were “no limits” to the exploits of Bin Salman and his government. He cited a Guardian report that revealed UK authorities had been warned by intelligence agencies that Saudi Arabia planned to target and surveil Cengiz in London months after the murder of Khashoggi. In a separate statement on Tuesday, Cengiz said any deal by Saudi-controlled funds to buy Newcastle was a “desperate attempt to save [Bin Salman’s] reputation”. “I trust the Premier League and British authorities value their own principles and reputation above this transparent attempt at sports-washing,” she added. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed its intention to buy an 80% stake in Newcastle but the takeover has been heavily reported. The British government has indicated it would not intervene in the controversial deal and, when asked about the matter recently, emphasised the UK’s close relationship with the kingdom. Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, was questioned on the issue by the SNP MP John Nicolson during a meeting of the digital, culture, media and sport committee and said it was a “matter for the Premier League” rather than Downing Street. Amnesty International has warned the Premier League it “risks becoming a patsy” if it does not consider Saudi Arabia’s human rights record before approving the takeover. Do you have a tip on this story? Please contact the reporter at [email protected]
I'm amazed that anyone is in any doubt about that to be honest. People can, fairly and understandably, comment about human rights violations, but once you end with the question "will the Premiership/FA turn a blind eye simply for the sake of a big wedge of cash?" history suggests that you don't really need to wait for the answer to know it.
But can you imagine what a statement it would be if the Football Authorities in England, for probably the first time ever, actually stood out publicly, on a matter of principle and said NO. We would all have to look at them in a new light. However, I'm not expecting an invasion of low flying pigs!!!!!
If ever there was a time to do it it's bound to be when a multi-billionaire fund is going to buy out my club so I'm almost expecting them to suddenly develop a conscience.
Oddly I can recall little fuss when the Government of Qatar bought PSG. Their record is not one that could be called unblemished what with claims of slavery, ill treatment of migrant workers and, lately, bribery to get The World Cup Tournament. There can be few multi billionaires, and that it seems is what it takes to own a successful Football Club, that have got this wealthy by being nice guys. I think it's way to late to start insisting that only nice people can own Football Clubs.
I think the problem is that there are shady, russian oligarchs...? (now banned from this country by the way)...and barbaric murdering bastards like some middle east countries...n korea anyone.
I don’t think the government of Qatar sanctioned the murder and dismemberment of fellow humans in their embassy. There may be plenty of bad guys around, but surely we should draw the line at evil.
There's something in the PL rules that precludes anyone who has done anything that would be considered a crime in the UK. I'm no expert in law but I'd imagine chopping someone's head off falls into that category ... ... and it's enshrined in their constitution.
As the Mags fans go around punching horses it pales in to insignificance compared to their potential owners antics , could be shades of the Godfather horses head in the bed scene .
There's a Mag called AndyH living his life, day and night, on RTG posting relentless drivel. His latest masterplan for the Geordie Nation is to buy the stadium off the council ... which they don't own They'll then build a massive new complex with a stadium, training ground, etc ... ... despite there being no suitable location. This Geordie genius would 'knock the old ground down, build offices, hotel, bars and restaurants'. A brilliant plan only ruined by the fact that NUFC can never own the land and the city doesn't need any more offices, bars and restaurants. The corona virus has made sure of that for years to come.
I'm in total agreement on how disgusting this all is. But in fairness to the Premier League, should they be the ones taking a moral stand when our own government sells weapons to this regime?
