Boris Johnson intervened in a Saudi bid to buy a top English football club after he was personally lobbied by its crown prince.
Mohammed Bin Salman urged him to correct and reconsider a wrong decision by the Premier League, which was accused of blocking a £300million takeover of Newcastle United, it emerged last night.
The angry crown prince warned the Prime Minister last year that Anglo-Saudi relations would be damaged unless it was reversed.
Mr Johnson asked senior No10 aide Lord Eddie Lister, a Middle East expert, to take up the complaint. Lord Lister said he would investigate .
The Saudis withdrew from the Newcastle deal last July – blaming the Premier League – to the fury of fans convinced the wealthy Middle Eastern state s investment could bring them new success.
Scouse not English & Milner to complete the set? - Klopp s superb U8s press conference - Liverpool FC
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It has now been 365 days since Anfield hosted a full crowd, when Liverpool welcomed Atletico Madrid in the Champions League at a time when COVID-19 had just hit the continent.
It was March 11, 2020, when Jurgen Klopp‘s side played in front of 52,267 fans, seeking to overturn a one-goal deficit against the Spaniards at Anfield.
But their eventual defeat after extra-time would ultimately drift into the background as it would be the last professional game played in front of a full crowd in England for more than a year as the pandemic swept across the world.
There were no masks or social distancing at that time but growing fears of what lay ahead, with the controversial decision to allow fans from Madrid to travel – which was already in lockdown – met with bewilderment.
Liverpool and Motherwell icon Ian St John s family make statement after sad passing
March 2, 2021
The family of Ian St John have released a statement after the legendary Liverpool and Motherwell icon passed away, aged 82.
A member of the Steelmen’s famous ‘Ancell Babes’ group, the iconic forward moved to Liverpool in 1961 for a then-record fee. He worked under Bill Shankly as he won multiple trophies, managing Motherwell for a short spell after his playing days came to an end before forging a successful media career.
The Liverpool and Motherwell legend has passed. (Photo by Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
St George Illawarra explores possibility of signing Folau Reuters 2/02/2021 © Reuters/CARL RECINE Super League Semi Final - St Helens v Catalan Dragons
(Reuters) - Australian National Rugby League (NRL) side St George Illawarra Dragons are seeking permission from the league to sign controversial former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau, the team said on Tuesday.
Folau, who has triggered outrage with inflammatory social media posts in the past, is contracted to French side Catalans Dragons in the Super League, but St George Illawarra CEO Ryan Webb is hopeful of signing him on a two-year deal. We re definitely interested and we re talking to Israel, St George Illawarra CEO Ryan Webb told the NRL website.
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