Newcastle Takeover: No Police Action On Crystal Palace Fans' Banner
25 October 2021
Police state no further action will be taken after a banner shown by Crystal Palace fans targeted the Saudi Arabian-led takeover of .
The banner took aim at the Premier League's ownership test, following Newcastle's current ₤ 305m sale.
It was displayed during Palace's 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Saturday.
"Following an evaluation, officers have concluded that no offences have been committed," said Croydon authorities, external.
"No further action will be taken."
The banner featured illustrations of a guy dressed in conventional Arabic clothes together with what seemed Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
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The banner had a list with alleged offenses by the Saudi Arabia regime.
Listed on an image of a clipboard under the heading 'Premier League Owners Test' were 'Terrorism, beheading, civil liberties abuses, murder, censorship and persecution'.
The guy in Arab-style clothes was likewise holding a sword with blood on it.
Palace fan group Holmesdale Fanatics took credit for the banner on Twitter, and issued a declaration.
"The Saudi led takeover of Newcastle has actually appropriately received extensive condemnation and anger," it stated.
"To offer the thumbs approximately this offer at a time when the Premier League is promoting the females's video game and inclusive efforts such as rainbow armbands, shows the total hypocrisy at play and shows the league's soulless agenda where profits exceed all."
The takeover was 80% funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), whose chair is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
When approving the takeover, the Premier League stated it had actually received legal assurances from the new owners that the Saudi state would not manage Newcastle United and there would be charges if it was proved otherwise.
The fans group's statement said this choice "made a mockery" of the 'Owners and Directors' test.
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