The Chairman of Premier League football club Newcastle United, Gary Hoffman, is tipped to resign shortly from the fall out over Saudi investment in the club.
Hoffman was instrumental in securing a $400 million investment in the north-east club from the Saudi Public Investment Fund. The pressure comes as some other clubs were not happy in the way in which the Premier League handled the takeover.
The news of Hoffman’s impending departure comes just days before a review of the league by ex-sports minister Tracey Couch is set to be made public. It is understood the review will call for the establishment of an independent body to oversee and control ownership and governance of clubs.
EXCLUSIVE: Gary Hoffman, the Premier League chairman, is on the brink of resigning less than 18 months after taking the role, following a backlash from a number of top flight clubs over the League’s handling of the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United. Full story up soon.
— Mark Kleinman (@MarkKleinmanSky) November 16, 2021
Hoffman’s departure also implies that the power brokers of the game lack the capability to self-govern in an ethical and constructive manner.
