The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Judith Benjamin
The Premier League have agreed to extend their overseas TV contract for the Middle East and Africa with BeIN Sports in move that will come as a major blow to Newcastle’s owners, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The Saudi Arabian government have been blocking BeIN’s TV coverage in their country since December due to on-going tension with Qatar, and are also in the process of attempting a hostile takeover of the Doha-based channel.
BeIN are refusing to negotiate with PIF and in a significant boost have agreed in principle to another three-year deal with the Premier League from the 2025-26 season that is worth around £550million.
The clubs gave Premier League executives permission to conclude the deal at last week’s shareholders meeting and it is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
The Premier League’s decision to renew with BeIN is also a blow to Newcastle, whose matches cannot be watched legally in Saudi Arabia due to a decision effectively taken by their owners.
The Premier League have agreed to extend their overseas TV contract for the Middle East and Africa with BeIN Sports
The news will come as a blow to Newcastle’s Saudi-backed owners, whose government have banned the Qatar-based channel
The club have made concerted attempts to promote themselves in Saudi since the takeover 18 months ago, with Eddie Howe’s first-team squad making regular visits every winter and launching a new third kit last summer which matched the kingdom’s green and white colours.
The Premier League are unhappy with the Saudi boycott, which ran from 2017 until 2021 before being resumed at the start of the World Cup last November, but have been powerless to bring it to an end.
