Newcastle United takeover CAT case: Where you can watch crucial deal hearing LIVE

Owner of Sports Direct and Newcastle United, Mike Ashley arrives at the High Court in central London on July 3, 2017, to defend himself against a lawsuit filed by a former business associate.

Last week the Competition Appeal Tribunal website diary released more details of tomorrow’s St James Holdings Limited v The Football Association Premier League Limited case - one seen as potentially crucial in the fight to push through a takeover at Newcastle United.

The case was brought by Mike Ashley earlier this year in order to help push through the potential buyout of Newcastle United by the PCP Consortium, made up of PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. It is also being used as a tool to secure compensation from the Premier League due to the stalled nature of the process to date.

Here’s a run down of the key points, where to watch it LIVE and details on what happens after this week’s key legal diary date.

When does the hearing take place?

Sports Direct International founder Mike Ashley leaves the Red Lion pub in Westminster to attend a select committee hearing at Portcullis house on June 7, 2016 in London, England.

The hearing is set to take place tomorrow. That’s set for 10.30am on September 29.

Can the hearing be watched LIVE?

As mentioned in this exclusive piece in sister title the Shields Gazette back in May, the hearing will be live-streamed for fans to watch. Of course, if the platform can support the numbers that will likely tune in.

Should, as expected, it be shown live to fans, CAT have advised that a link to the 10.30am hearing will go on to the website at around 9am.

A red box will pop up alongside the diary entry - which can be found at https://www.catribunal.org.uk/cases/14025721-st-james-holdings-limited - and fans should be able to click through to the live hearing.

There is no need to sign up or register for a ‘seat’ at the meeting, which will be conducted remotely.

Who makes up the tribunal?

Three men make up the tribunal, who will judge over whether the case progresses.

They are The Honourable Mr Justice Miles, Michael Cutting and Tim Frazer.

This has changed from the original listing, with The Honourable Mr Justice Snowden being replaced.

What is the hearing set to judge on?

The St James’ Holdings vs the FA Premier League claim alleges the Premier League were in infringement of articles 101 and 102 of the Competition Act 1998.

The CAT is a specialist judicial body which hears and decides cases involving competition or economic regulatory issues.

This is what the court documents state: “The Claim states that the Defendant exercised its power to block the Proposed Takeover when it decided between June and September 2020 that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would be a director exercising “control” over NUFC, for the purposes of the Rules (“the Director Decision”).

“In reaching the Director Decision, the Defendant failed to apply the Rules in a fair, objective and non-discriminatory fashion and/or used its powers under the Rules for the improper purpose of promoting its own commercial interests and/or the interests of its business associates and/or certain of the PL member-clubs in a manner that was detrimental to competition and consumers.”

It continues: “As a result of the breaches by the Defendant, the Claimant has suffered loss and damage. In particular, the Claimant has lost the immediate sale, or lost the likely opportunity of an immediate sale of its shares in NUL (which owns NUFC) to the Consortium Company.”

The papers also reveal what St James’ Holdings are seeking: “(1) Damages for loss of profit or, alternatively, loss of opportunity. (2) An injunction requiring the Defendant to withdraw the Director Decision and/or to reconsider the same. (3) Interest. (4) Costs. (5) Such further or other relief as the Tribunal considers appropriate.”

What happens next?

It is possible either side will appeal the decision. And while legal minds familiar with these cases have suggested any appeal process could take up to 12 months to be heard and sorted, CAT themselves, when quizzed by NewcastleWorld, would not be drawn on timescales.

Their stance is that each case is different and there are no set timescales on appeals, etc.

Then, following any possible appeal and provided it goes ahead, a case hearing would then likely be set, which would decide when the actual case would be heard.