Stefan Borson: Newcastle could face PL investigation after leak

Newcastle United could face a potential Premier League investigation following the leaked WhatsApp messages relating to the Saudi takeover of the club.

That is the view of finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider the north-east giants could be forced to allow the governing body “deep disclosure” around the club and their executives.

Messages leaked by The Telegraph on 20 October show Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, personally controlled the takeover of Newcastle by the state’s sovereign wealth fund (PIF).

The Tyneside club were eventually sold for £305million in October 2021 after the Premier League was given “legally-binding assurances” the PIF was separate from the Saudi state.

Newcastle’s chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, is the governor of PIF and chairman of state-owned petroleum company Saudi Aramco.

Newcastle situation ‘one to watch’ after Mohammed bin Salman news

Borson believes the situation is “one to watch” as the Premier League could now look to investigate the matter.

“You have got to look at it from the period before and after,” Borson told Football Insider.

“I don’t think it has any particular consequences in terms of what happened before. The WhatsApps appear to confirm his involvement in the period before.

“The question is whether those are indications of what was happening afterwards despite the undertakings that they gave to the Premier League, which were legally-binding undertakings that he wasn’t going to be involved going forward.

“If actually those WhatsApps point to a deeper involvement than was expected, then that could be a problem for Newcastle.

“The reason that it could be a problem more than anything is because it could potentially, and it’s only potentially because we don’t know what else is out there, but it could potentially open up grounds for an investigation by the Premier League.

“That’s really the thing they are going to want to avoid because, if there is an investigation, the Premier League will have rights to disclosure.

“That doesn’t mean they can go and get MBS’s WhatsApps, but it does mean that they can have pretty deep disclosure around the club and around executives of the club.

“If those do uncover further grounds for investigation and further disclosures, then that could be problematic, so it’s one to watch.”

In other news, Newcastle “dressing room transformed” as shock deal agreed.

For more Newcastle United and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.

The post Stefan Borson: Newcastle could face PL investigation after leak appeared first on Football Insider.