The EPL wrote to the U.S. government "complaining about Saudi Arabia’s alleged role in television piracy" just weeks before the league was asked to approve a £300M ($375M) acquisition of Newcastle United by the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. The EPL declined to comment on the letter (FINANCIAL TIMES, 4/30).
The publication of the EPL's submission to the Office of the United States Trade Representative "highlights the difficulty" facing the EPL in deciding whether it can approve the takeover. The EPL said in its submission, "A high proportion of the Premier League’s revenue is generated from the sale of exclusive audio-visual broadcasting rights. The scale and nature of online piracy, such as that committed in Saudi Arabia and detailed below, continues to place this revenue at significant risk." Despite the "controversy surrounding the Saudis," many Newcastle fans are "keen to embrace the takeover believing it will deliver a much longed-for era of success" (LONDON TIMES, 4/30).
Newcastle's would-be owners are "expecting to get the green light" from the EPL, with the owner's and director's test "close to its final stages." The next step will be "the transfer of the remaining funds to complete the deal" (CHRONICLE LIVE, 4/29).
Meanwhile, former Tottenham Manager Mauricio Pochettino is Newcastle's prospective new owners' "number one choice" to be the team's next manager and they are willing to pay him £19M ($23.7M) a year to take charge of the club. If the Pochettino deal "falls through," former Newcastle Manager Rafael Benitez is expected to return to the club (SKY SPORTS, 4/29).
