Newcastle United chief Amanda Staveley set for fresh ‘peacemaker’ Saudi role in surprise dispute move

Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley has been called upon to help smooth the Saudi’s relations in another sport.

The club director was integral in making the Saudi’s takeover of Newcastle happen in 2021, having been involved when the bid was first submitted in 2017.

But the Public Investment Fund (PIF)- the majority owner of the Toon- also backs LIV Golf, the new rival to the PGA tour.

Since last year, LIV and PGA have been locked in a legal battle. The PIF backed golf tour sued PGA after it allegedly indefinitely banned and fined golfers who defected to the new tour.

LIV’s lawsuit argues PGA’s actions against the players‘represented a breach of federal antitrust laws and a breach of the players’ contracts with the tour.’

According to Mail Sport, Staveley is being viewed by PIF as a ‘potential peace broker’ in ‘golf’s civil war’ by PIF governor and Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan- who is also heavily involved in LIV.

PIF has invested well over $2 billion into their golf emergence, recruiting golfers such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka.

But with many predicting the courtroom saga could last for years before there is a resolution, PIF are starting to root for a settlement. It is also thought by some the legal dealings could create problems for Newcastle United if the Saudi premiership and Al-Rumayyan’s involvement with their government is heavily interrogated.

Earlier this year, Al-Rumayyan challenged the court from seeing documents associated with LIV on the grounds it violated  “the sovereignty of a foreign state.”

PIF were only permitted to takeover Newcastle United after it was legally assured the Saudi State was not involved.

So PIF are looking to enlist veteran business woman and negotiator Amanda Staveley to deliver the impossible: common ground.

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