Ant and Dec ‘were told to promote Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian takeover’ on social media – as report claims leaked WhatsApps from Amanda Staveley point to their involvement

Ant and Dec reportedly helped to promote the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s takeover of Newcastle United.

The Tyneside duo were asked to promote an article about opposition to the Premier League failing to approve the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s takeover, it has been reported.

In WhatsApp messages The Telegraph report they have seen, former Magpies director Amanda Staveley promised that Ant and Dec would ‘push’ the article – and within four minutes they had shared it on Twitter.

The article in October 2020 from the Shields Gazette was about a supporters’ group claiming that the Premier League was acting against UK anti-competition law by delaying the takeover. 

According to The Telegraph, two days later Ant and Dec’s account on the platform, which is now called X, shared another article from the same publication answering questions about the progress of the takeover. 

Ex-Toon director Amanda Staveley reportedly said they would ‘push’ an article on the subject 

In the summer of 2020 the Premier League refused to sanction the takeover, which involved a consortium backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, amid concerns over links to the Saudi state.

The deal was initially abandoned when the group were unable to provide separation between themselves and the Saudi state, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

A petition was started calling on the Premier League to explain their reasons for delaying the takeover, after Mike Ashley accepted a £300million offer from a consortium made up of the Saudi Arabian PIF, the Reuben Brothers, and Staveley.

Richard Masters, the Premier League’s chief executive, was personally targeted, with his home address circulated on online fan forums. 

The dispute concerned the completion of a key Premier League form in the owners and directors test regarding club control and ownership — and the 80 per cent stake in the club that would reside with Saudi Arabia. 

Premier League chiefs wished to make plain the link between the Saudi Arabian state and Newcastle, but met resistance. 

An offer to place the issue in arbitration to break the deadlock was also rebuffed before the consortium announced it was pulling out.

Mike Ashley’s 14-year reign as owner of Newcastle has came to an end with a £305m takeover

Fans gathered to celebrate outside St James’ Park in 2021 as the takeover was confirmed

The £305m takeover was eventually completed in September 2021 after the consortium provided sufficient proof that the Saudi state would not be in control of the club, and they passed the Premier League owners’ and directors’ test.

Mail Sport has contacted the representatives of Ant and Dec, otherwise known as Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.