NEWCASTLE Central MP Chi Onwurah will this week present a petition to Parliament calling for greater transparency from the Premier League following the collapse of the Newcastle United takeover.
The petition has been signed online by 21,500 people since its launch last month and highlights concerns over the unaccountability and lack of transparency from the Premier League to football fans.
The potential £300m takeover of Newcastle collapsed after a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium (Public Investment Fund) pulled out of the deal amid lengthy scrutiny by the Premier League.
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Ms Onwurah said: “This petition shows the determination of Newcastle United supporters and concerned football fans across the country who want to see greater tansparency.
"Football clubs are an important part of a city’s cultural identity and local economy, but fans don’t get any say on who owns their club. The Premier Leagues takeover process lacks transparency, accountability and consistency and fans feel they have no voice.
"The Government must now act on their manifesto promise of a fan led review into the structure of our national game.”
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley during the FA Cup third round replay match at St James' Park, Newcastle Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
Saudi Arabian leader crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is the head of his nation's Public Investment Fund
An earlier change.org petition calling for an independent investigation into the Premier Leagues takeover processes attracted over 110,000 signatures.
Ms Onwurah will present her petition around 7pm on Wednesday, depending on the business of the House.
The petition states: To the House of Commons, The petition of residents of Newcastle upon Tyne Central, Declares that football is an important part of a city’s cultural identity and economy; further declares that football fans have little say in their club owners; notes that football ownership is determined by the Premier League’s Owners & Directors Tests; further notes that the Premier League do not provide updates to supporters about the progress of takeover bids; further declares that Premier League due process is opaque; further declares that the Premier League are not accountable to football supporters; further declares that the Premier League have failed to engage with fans; and further notes concerns that Premier League inactivity led to the collapse of the recent Newcastle United takeover.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take action to review the way in which the Premier League assessed the recent Newcastle United takeover bid, to provide accountability to fans and local communities of clubs subject to takeover bids, with particular reference to Newcastle United, and to commit to a timescale for a fan-led review of football, as promised in the Government’s manifesto.
Chi Onwurah's petition is at change.org
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