Saudi takeover of Newcastle United in doubt after WTO finding

The prospect of the Saudi Arabian Government taking a majority stake in Newcastle United has suffered a blow over the issue of illegal streaming.

The Guardian are reporting that the World Trade Organisation have deduced that Saudi Arabia are behind the unauthorised satellite television service beoutQ, which streams Premier League matches.

Newcastle are the subject of a takeover bid of approximately £300 million from a consortium which has an 80 percent backing from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, a financial arm of the country's crown prince and effective ruler, Mohammed bin Salman.

The Saudi state deny they are involved in piracy, but the World Trade Organisation are set to reveal otherwise in a 130 page report, due to be published in the middle of next month.

The Premier League are believed to have made submissions against Saudi Arabia as part of the process.

The UK Government have left it up to the Premier League to decide whether the consortium behind the offer for Newcastle United satisfies their owners' and directors' test.

Amnesty International have asked the Premier League to block the potential takeover, in light of Saudi Arabia's human rights record, while Hatice Cenzig, the fiancee of the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed two years ago inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, has also requested that the sale be blocked.