The PIF is part of a three-party deal that is being fronted by PCP Capital Partners, a venture capital and private equity company run by British businesswoman Amanda Staveley, and real estate firm Reuben Brothers, which wants to buy the club from English businessman Mike Ashley.
“UK authorities and the Premiere League (sic) should not allow someone like Mohamed Bin Salman (sic), who has yet to face any accountability for the murder of my late fiancé, Jamal Khashoggi, to be so involved in sports in the UK,” Cengiz said in a statement.
“Doing otherwise will greatly stain the reputation of the Premiere League and the UK. Mohamed Bin Salman is strategically using international sports to repair his badly damaged reputation after the murder of Jamal.”
The PIF did not respond to CNN’s request for comment. Previous requests to the PIF and Saudi officials for a comment regarding the Newcastle takeover have also been unanswered.
The Premier League declined to comment when contacted by CNN, while lawyers representing PCP did not respond to a previous request for comment.
BeIN, which owns exclusive rights to the Premier League in the Middle East and North Africa, advised that the Premier League “investigate the potential acquirer of the club” — comments the Premier League declined to respond to.
Under Premier League rules, prospective new owners of clubs need to pass the organization’s fit and proper person’s test.
If the deal goes through, it would end Ashley’s 13-year ownership of Newcastle.