Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) representatives of his Department (i) held meetings and (ii) exchanged correspondence with representatives of the English Premier League between 1 January 2020 and 31 October 2020 on the proposed takeover of Newcastle United by a consortium including the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
The Foreign Secretary did not discuss, nor exchange correspondence, with the English Premier League on this issue. FCDO officials exchanged correspondence and held meetings with the Premier League following a request by the latter. FCDO officials were clear, in their communication with the English Premier League, that any prospective takeover of Newcastle United Football Club was a matter for the two parties concerned.