Newcastle Win Big as SAFF Promised to Fight Piracy in EPL
Newcastle United which was recently bought by Saudi Arabian businessmen started the resumption campaign with a massive victory over Sheffield United. They thrashed Sheffield United 3-0 before Chelsea played theirs later in the day and won 2-1 from behind against Aston Villa.
Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has written to major sports bodies acknowledging it has a “responsibility” to help fight broadcasting piracy. In what could be a highly significant attempt to reassure its critics and break the deadlock over the country’s controversial takeover of Newcastle United, the governing body insists it “understands the need to protect and respect intellectual property rights”.
It comes in the wake of a landmark report by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which concluded the country had failed to do enough to combat the issue in relation to the broadcaster beout Q. It has been accused of illegally broadcasting a range of professional sport in the Middle East, including Premier League action. In a statement, the new owners of Newcastle United say they “aim to block 231 websites that violate regulations and rights” including those “directly broadcasting sites of encrypted sports channels…”
The proposed £300m Newcastle takeover deal is 80% financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), whose chairman is Crown Prince Mohammed bin, Salman. It is awaiting approval via the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test, which looks into the background of prospective club owners. Premier League lawyers have been assessing the deal for two months.
