Aston Villa CEO Sounds Alarm on Newcastle Takeover: Urges Premier League to Act Now Against 'Clear and Present Danger

Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow has called on the Premier League to revisit the takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. Purslow has expressed concern over the levels of spending by foreign government-backed ownership groups and warned that they present a “clear and present” danger to the future of the top-flight. The £300 million takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund was given the green light in October 2021, with the Premier League confirming it had received "legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control" the Magpies. Despite initial protests from fans and human rights groups, the takeover has been widely accepted, and the Toon currently sit in the top-four at the time of writing, with a strong chance of playing Champions League football next season. However, Aston Villa's impressive turnaround under their new boss Unai Emery has seen them rise to fifth in the Premier League and in the hunt for a European place. Purslow believes that foreign government-backed ownership groups pose a threat to the competition, and that the Premier League should revisit the Newcastle takeover to ensure that there is no contradiction in the representation made at the time of the takeover. In an interview with the Mirror, Purslow said: “If there is a contradiction in representation made at the time of the takeover, as to the nature of the relationship between the rulers of that country, the sovereign wealth fund and Newcastle, of course, the Premier League, I'm sure, are investigating that.” Purslow's concerns extend beyond just Newcastle, with Manchester City owned by Sheikh Mansour from Abu Dhabi, and recent interest from Qatar in Manchester United. He added: “I am profoundly worried about it. It is a clear and present danger. I don't want to look back in 20 years' time and say that I was part of a group that were asleep at the wheel. “And in 20 years' time we look back and three teams, controlled by nations, are the only three teams winning the Premier League ever again. How do we stop that? We stop it with what we have today, which is extremely strict financial rules.” The Premier League has faced criticism in the past for its approach to the ownership of football clubs. In 2019, the league introduced new rules to increase transparency and protect the integrity of the competition, following concerns over the influence of foreign owners on clubs. The rules included requirements for club ownership to be disclosed and for owners to provide evidence of their financial resources. However, some critics have argued that the rules do not go far enough in protecting the competition from the influence of foreign owners. Purslow's comments come as the Premier League continues to face questions over the ownership of Newcastle United, with some suggesting that the takeover has given the club an unfair advantage in the transfer market. While the Premier League has confirmed that it received "legally binding assurances" from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund that it would not control the club, concerns have been raised over the influence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the deal. The Crown Prince is the chairman of the fund and has been accused of being involved in human rights abuses and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Purslow's comments have been met with a mixed reaction, with some arguing that foreign ownership has been a positive influence on the Premier League, bringing in new investment and helping to raise the profile of the competition. Others have expressed concern over the potential for foreign governments to use football clubs for political gain and the impact that this could have on the competition. The Premier League has yet to respond to Purslow's comments, but it is likely that the issue of foreign ownership will continue to be a topic of debate in the coming months. While the Premier League had initially confirmed the Newcastle takeover, questions have been raised in recent months about the nature of the relationship between the Saudi Arabian government, the Public Investment Fund, and Newcastle United. Purslow's comments add to the growing concerns about the potential impact of foreign government-backed ownership on English football. In response to these concerns, the Premier League has recently announced that it will be reviewing its owners' and directors' test, which is designed to ensure that individuals and organizations that take over football clubs are fit and proper to do so. The review will include an examination of the league's rules on foreign ownership, as well as the financial regulations that govern club ownership and spending. Purslow's remarks come at a time when Newcastle United is enjoying a successful season under the management of Eddie Howe. The club currently sits in the top four of the Premier League and looks set to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in its history. However, Purslow warns that the success of Newcastle and other clubs owned by foreign governments could be detrimental to the future of English football. Purslow is not the only Premier League executive to express concern about the impact of foreign government ownership on the league. Manchester United CEO Ed Woodward has also spoken out on the issue, warning that foreign government-backed ownership could lead to a situation where only a few select clubs dominate the league. Woodward's comments were made in the context of recent reports that the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is considering a bid for Manchester United. The QIA is already heavily invested in football, having purchased Paris Saint-Germain in 2011. The prospect of a Qatari takeover of Manchester United has raised concerns about the influence of foreign governments on the club. In response to these concerns, the Premier League has said that it will be closely scrutinizing any bids for Manchester United or any other club. The league has also pledged to work with the government to ensure that the rules governing club ownership and spending are robust enough to protect the integrity of the league. Despite these assurances, however, there is still a sense of unease among Premier League executives about the impact of foreign government ownership on the league. Purslow's comments underline the need for continued vigilance in this area, as the league seeks to strike a balance between maintaining its competitiveness and ensuring that the interests of its clubs are protected. Send a message.