Most reliable reports suggest that PIF, run by Al Rumayyan, were majority stakeholder. They assured the PL that MBS would not be involved in the decision making. PL chose to not believe the evidence they provided. They have pulled the "reasonable doubt" card, which is governed by themselves. So Hoffman says "hmm, not sure" is enough for them to fail it.
The over-riding issue with this is - how the **** is Sheikh Mansour allowed to own, run and pump unlawful amounts of money into Man City, when he's the State of UAE? How can it make any difference if MBS or KSA is influencing or not? Ashley could take this even higher and cite the likes of PSG, seek assurances from the FA, UEFA, FIFA, UKGov, etc.
To be absolutely clear, the PL is just a team of marketing & admin staff who work on behalf of the PL. As has been documented, that effectively means the big 6 - Daniel Levy has repeatedly been quoted saying things like "we only want we're entitled to" when referencing bigger clubs getting more of the TV money. Masters himself was approved by Liverpoool & Man U - doubt Charnley had much of a say! As a result, they had a call to make on the PL and the votes of the 6 count for more than anyone else. There's the underlying threat of yet another breakaway - something FIFA is pushing for at a Global level - and so I think the PL weighed up the options and decided taking on Ashley was the lesser threat. The problem with this recourse is that Ashley et al haven't done anything wrong, whereas the other side of the coin is filled with corruption and unfairness. So whilst Ashley is the lesser threat in immediate terms, the existential threat from being 'found out' is infinitely bigger. All this the week after they lost £170m and cancelled a £568m contract with China.
People should never assume that just because people are in heightened positions or are wealthy that they're competent. The likes of Masters and Hoffman believe they're awesome, of course, but the truth is they're just people making stupid mistakes in the name of selfishness and greed. I genuinely think, in Mike Ashley, they have picked the wrong guy to mess with.
