Three poor points, not a single win and 19th place in the Premier League: Newcastle United’s interim results could hardly be more sobering. But there is now euphoria on the north bank of the Tyne. Row after row of superstars are traded as newcomers, words like championship or Champions League echo through the streets of the coal stronghold. Speaking of coal: the high spirits are triggered by the controversial billions of the Saudi royal family.
The Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF has held 80 percent of the club’s shares since last week. The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who heads the fund and has significant influence on the decisions, is said to cost 350 million euros for his new toy. In view of an estimated total volume of more than 270 billion euros, this is a subordinate investment.
Even if you close both eyes and ignore the fact that there are a number of allegations of human rights violations against the Saudi monarchy, the announcement of the takeover in the German football landscape would probably trigger a wave of protest. English football, however, has had its own laws for years.
Champions Manchester City receive their seemingly unlimited financial resources from the also not undisputed Arab emirate Abu Dhabi, Champions League winners Chelsea FC have left the footballing mediocrity behind thanks to the fortune of Roman Abramovich. It is not only quietly rumored that the oligarch could have earned his billions in parts controversially.
“The sky is the limit”
Now also equipped with multi-billion dollar seven-mile boots, Newcastle United wants to start the attack on the top dogs mentioned. A project that elicited the euphoria described in detail in the club.
On social media, fans of the Toons could be seen hugging frenetically after the announcement of the takeover. A whopping 94 percent of supporters are said to be in favor of the takeover.
“The fans have suffered a lot in the past,” the reaction was a sign of relief, Newcastle top star Jonjoe Shelvey told the “Daily Mail” Position.
“I know what the fans want – they want Mbappé and Messi,” continued Shelvey. “But that won’t happen overnight, we have to be realistic,” warns the midfielder against rash expectations. With the new opportunities, however, Newcastle could “achieve everything in the long run. The sky is the limit”, the 29-year-old England ex-international continued to cheer. However, one looks in vain for a critical classification of the new financier on the part of the vice-captain.
It’s even easier with John Barnes, an ex-Magpies kicker. “As long as the government, as the moral guardian of the country, says, ‘It’s okay to do business with Saudi Arabia,’ it’s okay.” That’s how the world works. Anyone who criticizes Newcastle is only looking for a “scapegoat”, quoted the “Mirror” Barnes.
Takeover a moral low
“It is not up to us to evaluate the political events in this country and we will not comment on this either”, Newcastle fan spokesman Lee Forster told the “kickerFor the fans, the focus is rather on getting rid of the hated ex-owner Mike Ashley. That the new owners – very unlike Ashley – promise the fans like a prayer wheel to take their wishes into account when making decisions, should explain the blinkers. Deeds must of course still follow.
Find clear words “The Sun“-Sport boss Dave Kidd.” The takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Arabian state is likely to be an all-time low for anyone who is naive enough to believe in the existence of morality in the Premier League, “said the journalist and adds tellingly : “Especially since the Taliban, Kim Jong-un and the Somali pirates don’t have enough money to buy a top English club.”
Hatice Cengiz, the widow of the murdered Saudi Arabian regime critic Jamal Khashoggi, denounced a “Shame on all of English football” an.
Completely independent of any moral debate, the now abundant petrodollars pour oil into the fire of the rumor mill.
The Messi and Mbappé, allegedly longed for by the fans, are not yet in the press, but there can be no talk of reluctance by any means. Philippe Coutinho, Gareth Bale, Ousmane Dembélé, Federico Chiesa, Matthijs de Ligt, Mauro Icardi or Erling Haaland are just the tip of the star iceberg that suddenly started trading in England’s northernmost city last week.
It is doubtful that Newcastle can reach the top shelves so quickly, but the consequences of the Corona crisis could turn out to be an upswing under the wings of the Magpies [Elstern, d.Red.] prove that some financially troubled clubs could probably steal their silverware.
Marc Affeldt
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