Newcastle United said on Wednesday a Saudi-backed bid to takeover the club has now been rejected by the Premier League.

The investment group, which included the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners and billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben, said they had withdrawn their bid for the club in July after waiting months for the English top-flight's approval.

A&nbsp;£300 million ($391 million) deal to buy the side from unpopular owner Mike Ashley had been agreed in April.

However, the bid had attracted scrutiny due to the piracy of sports broadcast rights, including Premier League matches, in Saudi and the state's human rights record.

Amanda Staveley of PCP Capital Partners said when the bid was withdrawn that the Premier League wanted the Saudi state to become a director of the club as the PIF was not deemed to be an arm of the government.

"Newcastle United can confirm that the Premier League has rejected a takeover bid made by PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) based on its Owners and Directors test," Newcastle said in a statement.

"This conclusion has been reached despite the club providing the Premier League with overwhelming evidence and legal opinions that PIF is independent and autonomous of the Saudi Arabian government.

"The club and its owners do not accept that Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and the Premier League have acted appropriately in relation to this matter and will be considering all relevant options available to them."

Masters said in a letter to Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah last month that Staveley's consortium had refused the opportunity to take the issue over the status of the PIF to independent arbitration.

Supporters have long campaigned for Ashley to sell the club as they have been disillusioned with his 13-year spell as owner, which has included two relegations from the Premier League.

"Mike Ashley understands fans' frustrations and would like to reassure them that he has been fully committed to ensuring this takeover process reached completion as he felt it was in the best interests of the club," added the Newcastle statement.

"Mike continues to be fully supportive to (manager) Steve Bruce, the players and all the staff and wishes them well for the upcoming season."

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said on Wednesday it will consider adapting its criteria for potential buyers after the failed takeover.

"We are going to look again at the owners' and directors' test and some of the issues and specifics of it," he told the BBC.

"It's time to have another look at it in light of recent events."

Newcastle begin the new Premier League season away to West Ham on Saturday.

Newcastle United said on Wednesday a Saudi-backed bid to takeover the club has now been rejected by the Premier League. The investment group, which included the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners and billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben, said they had withdrawn their bid for the club in July after waiting months for the English top-flight's approval.

Newcastle United said on Wednesday a Saudi-backed bid to takeover the club has now been rejected by the Premier League. The investment group, which included the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners and billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben, said they had withdrawn their bid for the club in July after waiting months for the English top-flight's approval. A £300 million ($391 million) deal to buy the side from unpopular owner Mike Ashley had been agreed in April. However, the bid had attracted scrutiny due to the piracy of sports broadcast rights, including Premier League matches, in Saudi and the state's human rights record. Amanda Staveley of PCP Capital Partners said when the bid was withdrawn that the Premier League wanted the Saudi state to become a director of the club as the PIF was not deemed to be an arm of the government. "Newcastle United can confirm that the Premier League has rejected a takeover bid made by PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) based on its Owners and Directors test," Newcastle said in a statement. "This conclusion has been reached despite the club providing the Premier League with overwhelming evidence and legal opinions that PIF is independent and autonomous of the Saudi Arabian government. "The club and its owners do not accept that Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and the Premier League have acted appropriately in relation to this matter and will be considering all relevant options available to them." Masters said in a letter to Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah last month that Staveley's consortium had refused the opportunity to take the issue over the status of the PIF to independent arbitration. Supporters have long campaigned for Ashley to sell the club as they have been disillusioned with his 13-year spell as owner, which has included two relegations from the Premier League. "Mike Ashley understands fans' frustrations and would like to reassure them that he has been fully committed to ensuring this takeover process reached completion as he felt it was in the best interests of the club," added the Newcastle statement. "Mike continues to be fully supportive to (manager) Steve Bruce, the players and all the staff and wishes them well for the upcoming season." Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said on Wednesday it will consider adapting its criteria for potential buyers after the failed takeover. "We are going to look again at the owners' and directors' test and some of the issues and specifics of it," he told the BBC. "It's time to have another look at it in light of recent events." Newcastle begin the new Premier League season away to West Ham on Saturday.

Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle rejected by the Premier League

Newcastle United fans say they have been treated with contempt after a 300 million-pound takeover bid from a Saudi-backed consortium collapsed on Thursday.

The group, which included Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, PCP Capital Partners and Reuben Brothers, announced they were ending their interest in the deal which had been delayed by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/premier-league">Premier League</a>’s owners and directors test.

The end of the Saudi bid left the North East club still in the hands of British businessman Mike Ashley, who has long faced protests and opposition from the fans.

Many Newcastle fans had welcomed the takeover, seeing it as a chance to boost the club’s fortunes through investment in new players.

But the bid had been criticised by human rights campaigners and had come up against questions about pirate broadcasts of Premier League games in Saudi Arabia.

Newcastle fans expressed frustration at the length of the Premier League’s scrutiny and press criticism of the takeover.

“The supporters of Newcastle United have been treated with contempt by large parts of the football media and the Premier League during this failed takeover process,” said the NUFC Supporters Trust.

“It’s been made clear that we are the least important people in a decision which affects us the most. We need answers,” they added.

Chi Onwurah, Labour Member of Parliament for Newcastle Central, said she would be contacting the Premier League.

“I know that many constituents will be disappointed and frustrated by the withdrawal of the latest NUFC takeover offer. I will be writing to the Premier League to ask why they took so long and gave so little clarity to NUFC fans,” she wrote on Twitter.

The city’s local newspaper, The Chronicle, published an open letter to the Premier League saying the team’s supporters were owed an explanation.

“A transformative but deeply controversial takeover is off. Having dreamed of something different, the city now confronts the reality of what Newcastle are: unloved, divorced from its people, deeply divided and facing the most uncertain of futures,” the paper wrote.

“The Premier League tonight stands accused of blocking a once-in-a-lifetime investment in the city and football club. It is a serious accusation that demands a response,” it added.

Noting that the Premier League has kept quiet, observing the confidential nature of the owners and directors test, the paper said the time had come for openness.

“But without clarity or the decency to even acknowledge the festering sores at one of your member clubs, we do not know. Left in the dark, Newcastle fans are furious tonight,” The Chronicle said.

The Premier League and Newcastle United did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Newcastle United fans say they have been treated with contempt after a 300 million-pound takeover bid from a Saudi-backed consortium collapsed on Thursday. The group, which included Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, PCP Capital Partners and Reuben Brothers, announced they were ending their interest in the deal which had been delayed by the Premier League’s owners and directors test.

Newcastle United fans say they have been treated with contempt after a 300 million-pound takeover bid from a Saudi-backed consortium collapsed on Thursday. The group, which included Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, PCP Capital Partners and Reuben Brothers, announced they were ending their interest in the deal which had been delayed by the Premier League’s owners and directors test. The end of the Saudi bid left the North East club still in the hands of British businessman Mike Ashley, who has long faced protests and opposition from the fans. Many Newcastle fans had welcomed the takeover, seeing it as a chance to boost the club’s fortunes through investment in new players. But the bid had been criticised by human rights campaigners and had come up against questions about pirate broadcasts of Premier League games in Saudi Arabia. Newcastle fans expressed frustration at the length of the Premier League’s scrutiny and press criticism of the takeover. “The supporters of Newcastle United have been treated with contempt by large parts of the football media and the Premier League during this failed takeover process,” said the NUFC Supporters Trust. “It’s been made clear that we are the least important people in a decision which affects us the most. We need answers,” they added. Chi Onwurah, Labour Member of Parliament for Newcastle Central, said she would be contacting the Premier League. “I know that many constituents will be disappointed and frustrated by the withdrawal of the latest NUFC takeover offer. I will be writing to the Premier League to ask why they took so long and gave so little clarity to NUFC fans,” she wrote on Twitter. The city’s local newspaper, The Chronicle, published an open letter to the Premier League saying the team’s supporters were owed an explanation. “A transformative but deeply controversial takeover is off. Having dreamed of something different, the city now confronts the reality of what Newcastle are: unloved, divorced from its people, deeply divided and facing the most uncertain of futures,” the paper wrote. “The Premier League tonight stands accused of blocking a once-in-a-lifetime investment in the city and football club. It is a serious accusation that demands a response,” it added. Noting that the Premier League has kept quiet, observing the confidential nature of the owners and directors test, the paper said the time had come for openness. “But without clarity or the decency to even acknowledge the festering sores at one of your member clubs, we do not know. Left in the dark, Newcastle fans are furious tonight,” The Chronicle said. The Premier League and Newcastle United did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Newcastle fans demand answers after Saudi bid collapses

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Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle rejected by the Premier League

Newcastle fans demand answers after Saudi bid collapses