Editing Newcastle United F.C. (section)

==Ownership==
Newcastle United was set up as a [[private company limited by shares]] on 6 September 1895.<ref name=history /> The club traded in this way for much of the 20th century, dominated by McKeag, Westwood and Seymour family ownership.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=80OIAwAAQBAJ&q=McKeag+seymour+and+westwood+families&pg=PT23 |title=Newcastle United: The Day the Promises Had to Stop |first=Denis |last=Cassidy |publisher=Amberley Publishing |year=2012 |isbn=978-1445609034}}</ref>

John Hall, who bought 79.2% of the club for £3&nbsp;million in 1991, floated the club on the stock exchange as a [[public limited company]] in April 1997. After the float 57% of the shares were held by John Hall and his family, and a minority were held by his business partner Freddy Shepherd.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/08/newsstory.sport8 |title=How the Geordie Nation turned into a cash cow |first=David |last=Conn |date=8 February 2006 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921044606/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/08/newsstory.sport8 |archive-date=21 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 1998, after buying a 6.3% stake in the club for £10&nbsp;million, the media group [[Virgin Media|NTL]] had considered a full takeover of the club. This was later dropped after the [[Competition Commission]], established in April 1999, expressed concerns about football clubs being owned by media companies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukbusinesspark.co.uk/ned66412.htm |title=Newcastle United |work=ukbusinesspark.co.uk |access-date=5 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222023947/http://www.ukbusinesspark.co.uk/ned66412.htm |archive-date=22 February 2008}}</ref>

[[File:AshleyOut2015.JPG|thumb|upright|Newcastle fans show ''Mike Ashley Out'' cards away to QPR, May 2015.]]

In 2007, businessman Mike Ashley purchased the combined stakes of both Douglas and John Hall, 41% share in the club, through a holding company [[St James Holdings]], with a view to buy the rest.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a7JILUkOGnFc&refer=uk |title=Ashley, Retail Billionaire, Offers to Buy Newcastle |first=Ravi |last=Ubha |date=23 May 2007 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105040821/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a7JILUkOGnFc&refer=uk |archive-date=5 November 2012}}</ref> Upon purchasing this share, he appointed Chris Mort as chairman, while gaining more shares, owning 93.19% of the club by 29 June 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jun/29/newsstory.sport8 |title=Ashley tightens grip on Magpies |date=29 June 2007 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=13 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005021342/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jun/29/newsstory.sport8 |archive-date=5 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> This figure reached 95% on 11 July 2007, forcing the remaining shareholders to sell their shares.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/ashley-poised-to-complete-newcastle-buy-out-2fxh2fjcq88 |title=Ashley poised to complete Newcastle buy-out |date=11 July 2007 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |access-date=15 January 2025}}</ref>

After completing the purchase of the club, Ashley had announced that he planned to sell the club on three occasions. The first occurred after fan protests over the resignation of Kevin Keegan in September 2008, when Ashley stated, "I have listened to you. You want me out. That is what I am now trying to do."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7615618.stm |title=Ashley puts Newcastle up for sale |date=14 September 2008 |website=BBC Sport |access-date   = 13 April 2011|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090607104014/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7615618.stm |archive-date = 7 June 2009|url-status   = live}}</ref> However, he took it off the market on 28 December 2008 after being unable to find a buyer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7801792.stm |title=Ashley calls off Newcastle sale |date=28 December 2008 |website=BBC Sport |access-date   = 28 December 2008|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081231023434/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7801792.stm |archive-date = 31 December 2008|url-status   = live}}</ref> On 31 May 2009, it was reported that Ashley was attempting to sell the club again.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/8075713.stm |title=Ashley wants quick Newcastle sale |website=BBC Sport |date=31 May 2009|access-date   = 1 June 2009 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090602191426/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/8075713.stm |archive-date = 2 June 2009|url-status   = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2009/06/01/mike-ashley-puts-newcastle-united-up-for-sale-again-72703-23760895/ |title=Mike Ashley puts Newcastle United up for sale again |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |date=1 June 2009 |access-date=1 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605162423/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2009/06/01/mike-ashley-puts-newcastle-united-up-for-sale-again-72703-23760895/ |archive-date=5 June 2009}}</ref> On 8 June 2009, Ashley confirmed that the club was up for sale at an asking price of £100&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/mike-ashley-brings-more-embarrassment-on-newcastle-says-george-caulkin-2wjlfbpv778 |title=Mike Ashley brings more embarrassment on Newcastle |first=George |last=Caulkin |date=8 June 2009 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London| access-date=15 January 2025}}</ref> By the end of August 2009, the club was back off the market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/4561352.Is_Ashley_ready_to_make_a_definitive_decision_/ |title=Is Ashley ready to make a definitive decision? |first=Andy |last=Richardson |date=24 August 2009 |newspaper=The Northern Echo |access-date   = 14 April 2011|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121005121846/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/4561352.Is_Ashley_ready_to_make_a_definitive_decision_/ |archive-date = 5 October 2012}}</ref> On 16 October 2017, Newcastle United announced that Ashley had once again put the club up for sale, reporting that he hoped that a deal could be concluded by Christmas 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41643718 |title=Newcastle United: Mike Ashley puts Premier League club up for sale |date=16 October 2017 |website=BBC Sport|access-date=16 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016165334/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41643718|archive-date=16 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Saudi-led takeover===
{{Main|2021 takeover of Newcastle United F.C.}}

In April 2020, it was widely reported that a consortium consisting of Public Investment Fund, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media, was finalising an offer to acquire Newcastle United. The proposed sale prompted concerns and criticism, such as arguments considering it [[sportwashing]] of Saudi Arabia's [[Human rights in Saudi Arabia|human rights]] record, as well as ongoing piracy of sports broadcasts in the region.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Panja |first=Tariq |date=30 April 2020 |title=As Premier League Weighs Saudi Bid for Newcastle, It Criticized Kingdom |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/sports/premier-league-saudi-arabia.html|access-date=4 May 2020 |issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504054203/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/sports/premier-league-saudi-arabia.html|archive-date=4 May 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2020, two [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MPs called upon the government to scrutinise aspects of the deal, with [[Karl McCartney]] calling for the sale to be blocked, and [[Giles Watling]] calling upon the [[Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport]] (DCMS) to hold an oral evidence session regarding sports piracy in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/newcastle-uniteds-potential-saudi-takeover-hits-another-serious-stumbling-block-mgjbwv8gw |title=Opposition grows to Newcastle United's potential Saudi takeover |first=Martyn |last=Ziegler |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |date=15 May 2020 |access-date=9 January 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In May 2020, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that the Premier League had obtained a report from the [[World Trade Organization]] (published publicly the following month), which contained evidence that Saudi nationals had backed [[beoutQ]] – a pirate broadcaster carrying the [[beIN Sports]] networks in the region since the [[Qatar diplomatic crisis]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |date=16 June 2020 |title=World Trade Organization Rules There is Evidence Saudi Arabia Supported Pirate Broadcaster beoutQ |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/global/world-trade-organization-rules-evidence-saudi-arabia-supported-pirate-broadcaster-beoutq-1234636962/|access-date=17 June 2020 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 June 2020 |title=WTO piracy ruling casts fresh doubt over Newcastle's Saudi takeover |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/newcastle-takeover-wto-ruling-saudi-arabia-piracy-beoutq-bein-sports|access-date=17 June 2020 |website=SportsPro Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ingle |first=Sean |date=26 May 2020 |title=Newcastle takeover in serious doubt as WTO rules pirate TV channel is Saudi |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/may/26/newcastle-takeover-in-serious-doubt-as-wto-rules-pirate-tv-channel-is-saudi|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref> In June 2020, ''The Guardian'' reported that [[Richard Masters (football)|Richard Masters]], who appeared in front of the DCMS, had hinted the possible takeover of Newcastle United was close to completion. The MPs warned it would be humiliating to allow a Saudi Arabian consortium to take charge given the country's record on piracy and human rights.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/30/newcastle-takeover-saga-close-to-resolution-richard-masters-tells-mps?CMP=share_btn_tw |title=Newcastle takeover saga close to resolution, Richard Masters tells Mps |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 June 2020 |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Newcastle United fans gather celebrating new ownership.jpg|thumb|280px|Image from 100% MAGS , showing thousands of NUFC fans celebrating the completed takeover outside St James' Park on 7 October 2021<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/newcastle-united-takeover-saudi-mike-ashley-b1934406.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/newcastle-united-takeover-saudi-mike-ashley-b1934406.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Newcastle United fans celebrate wildly outside St James's Park after Saudi-led takeover confirmed |newspaper=The Independent |date=7 October 2021 |access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref>]]

In July 2020, ''The Guardian'' reported that Saudi Arabia's decision to ban beIN Sports broadcast from operating in the nation had further complicated the takeover of Newcastle United.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/14/saudi-arabia-bans-bein-sport-to-further-complicate-300m-newcastle-takeover |title=Saudi Arabia bans beIN Sports to further complicate £300m Newcastle takeover |access-date=14 July 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 July 2020}}</ref> On 30 July 2020, Saudi Arabia announced its withdrawal from the Newcastle deal, stating "with a deep appreciation for the Newcastle community and the significance of its football club, we have come to the decision to withdraw our interest in acquiring Newcastle United Football Club". The group also stated that the "prolonged process" was a major factor in them pulling out.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/saudi-bid-buy-newcastle-ends-piracy-human-rights-issues-200730151208845.html |title=Saudi bid to buy Newcastle ends after piracy, human rights issues |access-date=30 July 2020 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref> The collapse of the takeover was met with widespread criticism from Newcastle fans, with Newcastle MP [[Chi Onwurah]] accusing the Premier League of treating fans of the club with "contempt" and subsequently wrote to Masters for an explanation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-mp-slams-premier-league-18691855 |title=Newcastle MP slams Premier League for treatment of fans during takeover process |access-date=30 July 2020 |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |date=30 July 2020}}</ref>

Despite the consortium's withdrawal, disputes over the takeover continued. On 9 September 2020, Newcastle United released a statement claiming that the Premier League had officially rejected the takeover by the consortium and accused Masters and the Premier League board of "[not] acting appropriately in relation to [the takeover]", while stating that the club would be considering any relevant legal action.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/club-statement-1/ |title=Club statement |date=9 September 2020 |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref> The Premier League strongly denied this in a statement released the next day, expressing "surprise" and "disappointment" at Newcastle's statement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://talksport.com/football/757634/premier-league-newcastle-club-statement/ |title=Premier League adamant they have not rejected Newcastle's takeover bid and say they are 'disappointed' and 'surprised' by club's statement |first=Oliver |last=Dawnay |website=talkSPORT |date=10 September 2020 |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

On 7 October 2021, the Public Investment Fund, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media confirmed that they had officially completed the acquisition of Newcastle United.<ref name="Newcastle United F.C"/> An investigation in May 2022 by ''The Guardian'' claimed that the British government of [[Boris Johnson]] was involved in Saudi Arabia's takeover of Newcastle United.<ref name="Guardian-24-05-2022">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/24/government-did-encourage-premier-league-to-approve-saudi-newcastle-takeover |title=Revealed: government did encourage Premier League to approve Newcastle takeover |access-date=24 May 2022 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 May 2022}}</ref> In April 2021, it was revealed that Saudi Crown Prince [[Mohammed bin Salman]] had warned Johnson in a text message, stating that the Premier League's decision would impact on UK-Saudi diplomatic relations. Following the warning, Johnson had appointed his special envoy for the Gulf, [[Edward Lister, Baron Udny-Lister|Edward Lister]], to take up the case.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/15/saudis-asked-boris-johnson-to-intervene-in-newcastle-united-bid |title=Saudi crown prince asked Boris Johnson to intervene in Newcastle United bid |access-date=15 April 2021 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 April 2021}}</ref> It was later reported that Johnson's extensive efforts also involved the Minister of Investment [[Gerry Grimstone, Baron Grimstone of Boscobel|Gerry Grimstone]], who held discussions with the Premier League chairman [[Gary Hoffman (businessman)|Gary Hoffman]] and Saudi representatives well-connected with MBS' office. The UK Government and Johnson said they were not involved in the Saudi takeover. After Premier League's approval, Hoffman informed the 20 English Football clubs that there was extensive pressure from the government; he said the decision was not influenced by it.<ref name="Guardian-24-05-2022" /> A separate report revealed that despite the US' conclusion that [[Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi|Jamal Khashoggi's assassination]] was ordered by Saudi's Prince Mohammed, he was able to avert the owners' and directors' test of the Premier League.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/lawandarts/announcement/view/459 |title=The Premier League's Owners' and Directors' Test Just Failed! |access-date=29 November 2021 |website=The Columbia Journal of Law and the Arts}}</ref> [[Human Rights Watch]] (HRW), a campaign group, has accused the Saudi government of using football, motor racing, and golf for [[sportswashing]]. As reported by Josh Noble, a sports editor for the ''[[Financial Times]]'', HRW defines sportswashing as "an effort to distract from its serious human rights abuses by taking over events that celebrate human achievement".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Noble |first=Josh |date=10 October 2022 |title=Saudi Arabia wealth fund commits $2.3bn to football sponsorships |newspaper=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ce556bac-30cc-49c6-b883-5cab67ce5379 |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref>

The Premier League had agreed to the Saudi PIF takeover of Newcastle, following "legally-binding assurances" that the Saudi state will have no control over the club. However, in February 2023, court documents published in the US claimed that the PIF is "a sovereign instrumentality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", and that the PIF governor and Newcastle's chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan is "a sitting minister of the Saudi government". Following that, Amnesty international, which already criticised Saudi of sportswashing, pushed Premier League to re-examine the Saudi PIF takeover of the club. In March 2023, Richard Masters expressed his doubts to a committee of lawmakers, stating that he was unsure if Premier League had launched the investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230328-premier-league-can-t-say-if-newcastle-ownership-probe-exists|title=Premier League can't say if Newcastle ownership probe exists|access-date=28 March 2023|website=France24|date=28 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrons.com/news/premier-league-can-t-say-if-newcastle-ownership-probe-exists-8e0687d1|title=Premier League Can't Say If Newcastle Ownership Probe Exists|access-date=28 March 2023|website=Barron’s}}</ref> In October 2024 the Premier League said it will not review the Saudi deal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Louise |date=2024-10-21 |title=Premier League will not review Saudi Newcastle deal after Bin Salman claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/21/premier-league-saudi-arabia-newcastle-deal-mohammed-bin-salman |access-date=2024-10-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>