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MPs have criticised the fan-led review of football governance after it emerged a new independent regulator may still not have blocked the ‘monstrous regime’ of Saudi Arabia leading the takeover of Newcastle.
The review, which was published last month, recommended a regulator to take control of future owners’ and directors’ tests, something which is currently carried out by the Premier League and EFL.
However, the review’s chair, MP Tracey Crouch, hinted the controversial sale of Newcastle would still have gone through because the Premier League had received legal assurances that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – the club’s new majority shareholders - was separate from the state.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) took over Newcastle in a £300m+ takeover
Tracey Crouch (left) was criticised for the fan-led review on owners' and directors' tests (pic right: Newcastle's chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan with wife and part owner Amanda Staveley)
Asked by Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee chair Julian Knight whether an independent regulator would have allowed the Saud-led takeover, Crouch said: ‘I don’t know.
‘We talk about the Saudis taking
