Saudi Arabia has lifted its four-year ban on beIN Sports, a move that could have "significant ramifications for the Saudi-backed" takeover of EPL club Newcastle. The Qatar-based beIN, which holds TV rights to the EPL in the Middle East, "has been a major opponent to the Newcastle deal." Today's news "removes a significant barrier to any potential takeover." Other potential barriers "remain, the most significant being any link" between Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) looking to buy the club. Last year, a proposed $407M deal "hit the rocks" over the EPL's view that the PIF, which was "hoping to acquire an 80% stake in Newcastle, was de facto the Saudi state." That is the subject of a legal dispute which "will be resolved in an arbitration hearing in January" (London GUARDIAN, 10/6).See morein tonight's SBJ Global.
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