The lifting of the blockade against Qatar by the Gulf state led by Saudi Arabia is provoking plenty of intrigue amongst Newcastle United fans.
There is hope that the agreement signed yesterday at the Gulf Cooperation Council which now means all sea, land and air travel can resume for the first time in more than three years, will help push through the Saudi led takeover of Newcastle United.
As noted yesterday, the thawing in relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar can only be positive but how far up the takeover is on the agenda of things to resolve between the two countries remains to be seen.
One of the elements believed to have caused issues between the Premier League and the group trying to buy Newcastle was that of piracy - the problem heightened as Qatar officially raised it with the World Trade Organization last year.
The WTO concluded that Saudi Arabia had not done enough to stop or deter the illegal broadcast of beIN within the country - something the Kingdom refuted. An appeal against the decision remains under review.
Reports in the Financial Times claim that Qatar is to ' freeze state-related legal cases launched against its rivals at institutions such as the World Trade Organizations.'
When asked by Chronicle Live the WTO did not want to comment on the newly signed agreement between Saudi Arabia and Qatar but added they 'had no information at this time whether dispute proceedings will be suspended as a result.'
Speaking at the conference, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described the 'Al-Ula Declaration' as an agreement 'which affirms the importance of the solidarity and stability in the Gulf.'
Today (Wednesday 6th) FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with the Saudi sports minister Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Saud to discuss 'opportunities between the Kingdom and football’s governing body.'
