The Saudi Arabian takeover of Newcastle United has reportedly moved a step closer after the country resolved the issues it had with regards to piracy with Qatar broadcaster beIN Sports.
Sources close to the DailyMail and BBC Sport have claimed that the removal of all forms of piracy in Saudi and also the lifting of a ban on beIN Sports being shown in the country should allow the £300 million deal to be finalised.
The main piracy issues revolved around how Premier League and other football matches were being shown in the country through pirate station beoutQ, yet these have since been resolved.
The proposed takeover collapsed during the summer of 2020, and it centred on whether the Saudi owners would pass the league's owners' and directors' test, with this test measuring the suitability of owners at a club in order to ensure that sustainable decisions are made.
At the time it was believed that arbitration set for January 3 would debate whether the Saudi state would effectively sit on the Newcastle board and hence be tested on allegations surrounding human rights abuses.
However, with TV piracy breaches being put to an end, a breakthrough in negotiations could eventually be reached.
Mike Ashley, who has owned Newcastle United since 2007, has been heavily criticised throughout the years for the way that he has run the football club, with fans calling for the club to be sold, especially after the second relegation under his ownership back in 2016.
