Qatar-based broadcaster and English football’s biggest overseas broadcast partner beIN Sports has written to the Premier League and its 20 clubs to block the proposed £300 million takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The TV giant claims Saudi Arabia is in full support of beoutQ – a pirate channel that illegally broadcasts Premier League matches, and given that beIN Sports three-year deal with the top-flight is worth £500 million to the clubs, it’s believed their move poses a significant threat to the takeover being approved by the EPL.
However, The Athletic duo George Caulkin and David Ornstein and Sky Sports’ Pete Graves don’t believe that will stop the takeover from going through, reacting thus on Twitter to allay the fears of hopeful Newcastle fans.