BeIN Sports has taken another swipe at Saudi Arabia - referencing the Newcastle United takeover this time - as the geopolitical battle that the club finds itself as the centre of escalates.
It was confirmed today that the Saudi Arabia has appealed the WTO report into piracy that saw both sides claiming victory in the bitter battle over the BeOut Q service.
In practical terms it will mean little for the United buy out - seemingly stalled as the Premier League considers its Owners and Directors test - but does emphasise that Newcastle are caught in much wider cold war in the region.
BeIN Sports have been one of the most high-profile critics of the Saudi-backed attempt to acquire Newcastle, arguing it would let the "fox in the hen house" if the deal was passed.
Saudi has launched piracy crackdowns in the Kingdom in response to the WTO ruling and the consortium insist no-one linked to piracy is involved in the bid, which is being financed by the Public Investment Fund.
But for the first time, Qatari service BeIN have referenced the takeover explicitly.
A statement posted on their official Twitter account read: "Having spent the past six weeks telling the world how the WTO ruling was a ‘complete vindication of the Kingdom’, curiously Saudi Arabia is now appealing a case they say they emphatically won.
"Rather than positively complying with international law, since June Saudi Arabia has lied to Governments and rights-holders across world sport about the WTO ruling; it has said the Premier League, FIFA and UEFA sent their legal case to the wrong Saudi email address 9 times it has permanently banned the Premier League’s broadcast partner meaning the only way to watch premium sport is via piracy; and now it is appealing a WTO decision that they said they won.
"All the while, Saudi Arabia is essentially trying to pass an honesty and an anti-piracy test under the Premier League’s rules, and gain the trust of the international sports community."
Frustratingly there is now a huge air of uncertainty what happens next and Newcastle's future. With the Premier League refusing to clarify the current state of play and no official comment from any interested parties, the situation is in limbo.
Mike Ashley spoke to Steve Bruce today to confirm close season plans as Newcastle press on with a "business as usual" stance as the buy out rumbles on in the background. To put a polite spin on it, it is a deeply unsatisfactory situation.
