Manchester City and Manchester United are among the Premier League clubs demanding an emergency meeting after the controversial Newcastle United takeover was completed.
In a seismic £305million deal, the Magpies have new owners after a consortium backed by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) struck up an agreement with now-former chairman Mike Ashley.
According to a report in The Guardian, a would-be meeting is not to derail the takeover, as such.
Indeed, the parties involved have already issued the green light in that respect.
However, the article suggests that tensions are running high among the 19 other Premier League clubs - including City and United - as they prepare to reflect their views to the division's governing body.
They are demanding to know why a consortium allowed to buy out Ashley was waved through.
Owners have expressed a concern that the Premier League brand might be damaged as a result of the takeover.
Indeed, the news - and decision - has been widely condemned by human rights groups as the Saudi-backed PIF is overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
On the pitch, the Newcastle takeover is set to see a new contender emerge for trophies and elite players.
However, in the first instance, there are some off-field issues to attend to as Premier League CEO, Richard Masters, and chairman Gary Hoffman have received complaints from clubs who were unaware that the £305million deal was about to be rubber-stamped.
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An initial proposal from the same investors in March 2020 was withdrawn four months later amid growing feeling they would fail the Premier League owners and directors test.
The matter was not on the agenda at the latest shareholders meeting, either, as the 19 other clubs are thought to have only been made aware that a deal was about to be finalised when it started to filter through media channels this Wednesday afternoon.
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