You can only imagine how frustrated the Newcastle United fans are.It's been more than three months since the prospect of a £300million deal to purchase the club was officially revealed.Since then, supporters have been waiting with bated breath.Amanda Staveley is the main figure in the Saudi-backed consortium who are hoping to purchase the club, but the acquisition has proved to be anything other than straight forward.The Premier League are currently running the rule of the investors to see that they match the requirements of a club owner in the Premier League, but issues such as piracy and human rights violations are only the start of the uncertainty over their credibility.Meanwhile supporters continue to be at the end of their tether with current owner Mike Ashley, and will do just about anything to get rid of the Sports Direct mogul.But with speculation mounting regarding the status of the takeover bid made by the Saudi-based consortium, some supporters are questioning what will happen if the Premier League reject their bid to take over the club.It has been a troubling week for Newcastle again who were engulfed by controversies in Saudi Arabia again.
They completely banned beIN Sports from operating in their country, also handing the broadcaster a £2m fine.beIN have been at the centre of a piracy scandal, showing Premier League matches illegally to the Saudi public, something that's been one of the biggest causes for delay in the takeover.However according to TalkSPORT's Middle-Eastern reporter, Ben Jacobs, the recent ban on beIN Sports could be an act of 'retaliation' which could prove fatal in the club's hopes of completing a takeover.
Jacobs tweeted: "Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Competition (GAC) has permanently cancelled the licence of beIN Sports. An astonishing move and one that goes against previous anti-piracy crackdowns and is sure to be frowned upon by the Premier League.
"My understanding is beIN see the move as 'unlawful' & only learnt about the decision via the media. If approval for #NUFC takeover hangs on Saudi Arabia's response to piracy & the recent WTO report, then shutting down the official MENA PL broadcaster isn't going to help matters.
"Removing beIN's license feels like a move of retaliation.
"If PIF have failed the Premier League checks because of beoutQ this would be a 'logical' reaction. If the tests are ongoing/nearing completion, this is a nonsensical move. PL simply can't approve if beIN are banned."
GIVEMESPORT'S Phil Spencer says...
You've got to feel sorry for the Newcastle United supporters.
The club is the heart and soul of the community on Tyneside and fans just want an answer - and rightly so.
Mike Ashley is a universally unpopular figure in the North East and so it's no surprise that so many are keen to see the back of him.
However with plenty of controversy surrounding the potential investors, there's plenty to consider.
It's the right thing for the Premier League to do as they do a thorough examination of the key figures in the Saudi-based consortium, but surely a decision must be close.
If it's not, then I think it's key that the Premier League make their concerns public as transparency has to be key in this situation.
Otherwise I think supporters will continue to be hugely frustrated until a decision.