This is the third article in a series of articles for this week to mark the one-year anniversary of Newcastle United’s controversial takeoverBy a Saudi-backed group. Chris Waugh and George Caulkin were first to explain how the club has evolved in twelve months. Yesterday Oliver Kay was in Saudi Arabia to ask questions about how the takeover is perceived there, football’s role in the country and allegations of sportswashing. Matt Slater looks at the extent of Saudi influence and involvement in the Premier League club.
First public announcement in October 2008 and first bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, it is the beginning of a quest to smash the status quo.
Yasir Al Rumayyan, boss of this fund Newcastle United’s new chairman, and his Saudi colleague Majed Al Sorour, a Newcastle director, are bouncing around, enjoying the applause and hugging the superstars their money has attracted.
Why not? This project has been dogged by controversy — and they know there are more battles to come — but none of it would be happening without them. This is their chance and they want it to be theirs.
This is the inaugural LIV Golf Series event. Three rounds of… erm, sub-par golf in Hemel Hempstead in June.
The sixth tournament in the rebel tour’s season is in Thailand this weekend, with the seventh coming a week later at Saudi Arabia’s best course, the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.
