Revealed: Why Premier League has been told to block Saudi Media Group from buying Chelsea
Ahead of new Chelsea owner, The Premier League has been urged to block the Saudi Media Group and other Saudi bidders from buying Chelsea.
However, This is according to the Human Rights Watch, who wants the Premier League to update its Owners’ and Directors’ Test to prevent “dictators and kleptocrats whitewashing their reputations” through English football.
Said Yasmine Ahmed, UK advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, as quoted by inews.co.uk: “Allowing Newcastle United to be sold to a business consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, an institution chaired by a state leader linked to human rights abuses, has exposed the farcical inadequacies of the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test,”
“As another consortium with Saudi government links eyes acquiring Chelsea, the Premier League should move fast to protect the league and its clubs from being a fast-track option for dictators and kleptocrats to whitewash their reputations.”
“The Saudi government has gone all-out in the past years to bury its human rights abuses under public spectacles and sporting events,” Ahmed added. “Until there is real accountability for these abuses by the Saudi leadership, those silently benefiting from the kingdom’s largesse risk being an accomplice in whitewashing their crimes.”
The Saudi Media Group submitted a £2.7billion bid to buy Chelsea and have always insisted they have no ties with the Saudi government.
Meanwhile, the UK’s sports minister Nigel Huddlestone said last week: “Saudi Arabia is an important partner of the UK in investment, intelligence and culture. We welcome Saudi Arabian investment.”