London: Amnesty International UK chief Sacha Deshmukh will sit down with Premier League chief executive Richard Masters to revise the ‘human-rights compliant’ owners’ and directors’ test, following 305 million euros Saudi takeover of Newcastle United.
Deshmukh has described the current rules as ‘woefully inadequate’ before stating it was ‘an extremely bitter blow for human rights defenders’, as the deal was allowed to go through after the Premier League had given the ‘legally binding assurances’ that the Gulf nation would have no involvement whatsoever in the running of the club.
Amnesty showed concern over the separation between the Saudi Arabia Government and Newcastle United after Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman was made the chair of the Public Investment Fund, and now that holds a controlling stake in Newcastle.
Regarding this fiasco, Deshmukh said, “The current rules concerning who owns and runs English football clubs are woefully inadequate, with no bar on ownership for those complicit in acts of torture, slavery, human trafficking or even war crimes.
He also added, “The Saudi buyout of Newcastle United always looked like an attempt to sportswash Saudi Arabia’s appalling human rights record with the glamour and prestige of the Premier League and top-flight football.
“Under Mohammed bin Salman’s leadership, government critics and human rights defenders have been jailed, civilian deaths from Saudi bombing in Yemen have mounted inexorably, and the grotesque killing of Jamal Khashoggi has been subject to a whitewash.
“There is now huge disquiet over the cynical use of English football to sportswash human rights abuse,” he added.
“We’re keen to discuss with Richard Masters our ideas for a human rights-compliant Owners’ and Directors’ test which can help weed out unsuitable owners complicit in human rights violations, as well as reducing sportswashing and generally improving governance within the game.”
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation that fights for and focuses on human rights. Founded in London by Peter Benenson in July 1961, the organisation claims and boasts over seven million supporters and members from all around the world.
