The Saudi takeover of Newcastle United has stalled indefinitely – dashing Steve Bruce's plea for “clarity.” Newcastle are planning for next season under Mike Ashley and Bruce, with the proposed £300m deal unlikely to be waved through.
The Premier League are believed to be standing alongside its major £500m overseas rights holder beIN Sports. They were last week slapped with a permanent ban by a Saudi court from broadcasting in the country – hugely inflaming the situation.
The ban was passed in direct contradiction to Premier League chief exec Richard Masters saying in June that the Saudis had to “respond positively to the situation and allow sports rights holders to protect their rights”.
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