Newcastle Takeover: No Police Action On Crystal Palace Fans' Banner

25 October 2021


Police say no more action will be taken after a banner displayed by Crystal Palace fans targeted the Saudi Arabian-led takeover of United.


The banner took objective at the Premier League's ownership test, following Newcastle's recent ₤ 305m sale.


It was displayed throughout Palace's 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Saturday.


"Following an assessment, officers have actually concluded that no offenses have been devoted," stated Croydon cops, external.


"No additional action will be taken."


The banner included illustrations of a man dressed in conventional Arabic clothes together with what appeared to be Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.


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The banner had a checklist with alleged offenses by the Saudi Arabia program.


Listed on a picture of a clipboard under the headline 'Premier League Owners Test' were 'Terrorism, beheading, civil liberties abuses, murder, censorship and persecution'.


The guy in Arab-style clothes was also holding a sword with blood on it.


Palace fan group Holmesdale Fanatics took credit for the banner on Twitter, and released a declaration.


"The Saudi led takeover of Newcastle has actually rightly received prevalent condemnation and anger," it stated.


"To give the thumbs up to this deal at a time when the Premier League is promoting the ladies's video game and inclusive initiatives such as rainbow armbands, shows the total hypocrisy at play and demonstrates the league's soulless agenda where revenues defeat all."


The takeover was 80% financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), whose chair is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.


When authorizing the takeover, the Premier League said it had actually received legal assurances from the new owners that the Saudi state would not manage Newcastle United and there would be penalties if it was proved otherwise.


The fans group's declaration stated this decision "made a mockery" of the 'Owners and Directors' test.


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