Soccer-Premier League must re-examine Newcastle takeover, says Amnesty International

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Liverpool - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - February 18, 2023 Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The Premier League should re-examine assurances received from Newcastle United's Saudi owners that the Middle East state would not have control of the club in the wake of a court document filed in the U.S., Amnesty International said on Thursday.

Newcastle's takeover by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) was rubber-stamped in October 2021 after "legally binding assurances" that the Saudi government would have no control of the north-east club.