The fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi is 'cautiously optimistic' that the Saudi led takeover of Newcastle United will be blocked by the Premier League.
Hatice Cengiz has written to the Premier League to oppose the deal and also penned an open letter to Newcastle fans urging them to reject the proposed buy-out in which the Public Investment Fund is to take an 80% stake.
The bid has now been with the Premier League for several weeks as those at the PIF, as well as the Reuben Brothers and Amanda Staveley who make up the rest of the consortium buying the club, undergo the owners and directors test.
Khashoggi was murdered in October 2018 with the UN and CIA claiming the Saudi government was responsible -something the Crown Prince denies.
Cengiz, having received a reply from the League's chief executive Richard Masters who in a letter wrote that he 'remains extremely sympathetic' to her position, told BBC Sport she was feeling more confident the deal would be blocked.
"I'm cautiously optimistic the Premier League will make the right decision," she said.
"I'm sure that if the Premier League follows its own rules and charter, especially the owners' and directors' test, it will block the sale of Newcastle United to Mohamed bin Salman and the Public Investment Fund he chairs.
"Until Bin Salman is held accountable for his role in Jamal's brutal murder, everyone must refrain from doing any business with him."
Issues over TV piracy in Saudi Arabia - in particularly the broadcast of football matches - has also been raised with the Premier League reportedly in possession of report from the World Trade Organisation on the matter.
