The deal to sell Newcastle United to a consortium backed by the Saudi Arabian state will not be blocked by the UK Government.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden answered questions from the Digital, Media and Sport Committee and says the fitness of prospective owners is a matter for the Premier League.
The Premier League are conducting due diligence on the expected £300 million sale of Newcastle from Mike Ashley to a company headed up by Amanda Staveley.
Dowden was questioned over the sale by MP John Nicolson, who raised the involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the purchase, pointing to the brutal murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Dowden won't be interfering in the matter.
“As you know the fit and proper person test is undertaken by the Premier League and I don’t want to prejudge the process. I would take slight issue with the characterisation of him (bin Salman) personally. It’s the sovereign wealth fund, not him personally buying it."
The proposed sale has drawn criticism from groups as diverse as Amnesty International and Qatari sports broadcaster beIN SPORTS, but Dowden is confident the process is thorough.
“We have good foreign relations with Saudi Arabia, but we also have never been shy of raising all of those human rights abuses that you have talked about and we will continue to do so. I think it's a matter for the Premier League. I am content that they should carry out that test."
Meanwhile, Dowden has urged the Premier League to show matches free to air if the 2019-20 season is completed behind closed doors.
"I have said to the Premier League that it wouldn't send the best signal if the public at large couldn't have access to it."
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