Premier League chief confirms Newcastle consortium declined arbitration offer

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has broken his silence on Newcastle’s stalled takeover to confirm that the buyers declined an offer of independent arbitration. A consortium comprising Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the Reuben Brothers and Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital partners withdrew its £340million offer for the club last month after waiting in vain for permission from the governing body to complete a deal which was presented to it 17 weeks ago. However, in a letter to Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah, Masters confirmed that an impasse had been reached as the league sought assurances over who would be in control of the club under its...