An MP who challenged the Saudi-led Newcastle takeover says he was 'disturbed' by the number of supporters who appeared to be prepared to overlook the country's appalling human rights record if it meant the deal going through.
The Saudi public investment fund and the other members of a consortium hoping to buy the club announced on Thursday they had withdrawn their offer for the Premier League side, blaming the 'prolonged process' for their decision.
John Nicolson, a Scottish National Party MP who sits on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, has questioned DCMS secretary of state Oliver Dowden and Premier League chief executive Richard Masters about the deal at committee hearings in recent months, asking how it could possibly proceed given the country's human rights record and its links to piracy which was harming the league's business.