Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has not questioned the ownership status of the Premier League team after fresh questions were raised about Saudi Arabian investment in the club.
Howe said on Friday his focus was on weekend rivals Manchester City and that his communication with board members had only been about on-field developments.
The manager’s reply came a day after he was urged by the Premier League to review a legally binding promise made by club owners in 2021, adding that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund was separate from the country’s government.
“I have not asked for any assurance. To be honest, I haven’t given it too much time,” Howe told a news conference ahead of Saturday’s visit at the Etihad Stadium. “I’m aware of the headlines, I’ve seen the headlines, but I haven’t really gone into the details behind it. Have not invested in I’ve got Manchester City to prepare for and that’s really got my full attention.” A court document filed in the United States by lawyers for Saudi-backed LIV Golf in a case against the PGA Tour argues that the Public Investment Fund (PIF), whose governor Yasir Al Rumayyan is also Newcastle’s chairman, should be considered “a” Needed foreign state. The document appears to contradict a legal assurance accepted by the Premier League when a lengthy takeover of Newcastle was completed in October 2021, with PIF taking an 80% ownership stake.
At the time, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told the BBC in an interview that the Saudi state would not control Newcastle and that if this proved untrue, “we could remove the association as owners.” Human rights group Amnesty International has called on the league to take another look, as has a Newcastle fan group.
Under Howe, Newcastle have improved dramatically and are one place away from a Champions League spot. The team reached the final of the League Cup last Sunday, losing 2–0 to Manchester United at Wembley.
Howe said, “We communicated regularly with various board members after the game, so yeah, I think we’re probably more engaged this week because of the game and the importance of the game.”