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☆ Man City cruise to win over Saints, Newcastle maintain top-four push
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

loadingLeaders Arsenal play Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday where the London side seek a first league win since 2012. Manchester United maintained their top-four pursuit while at the bottom there were vital victories for Bournemouth and West Ham United. Leicester City's plight worsened as the 2015-16 Premier League champions suffered a seventh defeat in eight league games as they lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth to stay 19th. Newcastle's fifth consecutive win moved them up to 56 points from 29 games -- the same as Manchester United who beat Everton 2-0 in Saturday's early kickoff. SON MILESTONETottenham's Son Heung-min scored his 100th Premier League goal with a sublime 10th-minute curler -- the first Asian player to reach that milestone.

Public Investment Fund LIV Golf Trump World Performance54 LIV Golfers PLUS 45 OTHERS CONSULTANTS LAWYERS McKinsey & Company PwC Public Investment Fund Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan White & Case M. Klein & Company Teneo Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Majed al-Sorour Newcastle United Aramco Golf Saudi Benjamin Quayle Yasir al-Rumayyan Ari Fleischer Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LIV Golf Performance54 Trump World Greg Norman Donald J. Trump Gary Davidson Jed Moore Eric Trump Jared Kushner LIV Golfers Cameron Smith Phil Mickelson Dustin Johnson PLUS 45 OTHERSLIV Golf has cleaved men’s professional golf like no other force since the 1960s. Some of the world’s top players, including Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, have become the faces of LIV Golf. The Public Investment FundDiagram of the major figures in LIV Golf that are connected to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Public Investment Fund Jared Kushner’s firm accepted a $2 billion investment from the Public Investment Fund. LIV Golf Trump World Eric Trump Jared Kushner Donald J. Trump Public Investment Fund Jared Kushner’s firm accepted a $2 billion investment from the Public Investment Fund.

☆ 9 Middle Eastern funds and investors pouring money into US media, sports, and entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Governments and investors in the Middle East are pouring money into Western media and entertainment. Sovereign funds and other entities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are pouring millions into US media and entertainment, and they're finding plenty of takers. The channels for money from Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East are complex. Insider broke down the key entities — their owners, leaders, and high-profile investments and joint ventures — in the top three Middle Eastern nations pouring money into US entertainment and media. It describes itself as the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa and runs one of the largest TV news channels, Al Arabiya.

☆ Saudi money is flowing to US media and entertainment, from Live Nation to LIV Golf, 5 years after Jamal Khashoggi's murder: 'The ice has thawed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Claire Atkinson | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Sovereign funds and other entities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are pouring millions into US media and entertainment. Insider identified some key people connecting Middle East investors with American companies. Saudi Arabia is trying to pitch itself to the world as a cultural and economic reformer and spur tourism. Vince McMahon's WWE has a long-term partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a major live WWE event there slated for May. Vince McMahon's WWE was one of the first US companies to create unique events in Saudi Arabia.

☆ Willock and Wilson score to lift Newcastle above Man United
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEWCASTLE, England, April 2 (Reuters) - Joe Willock and Callum Wilson scored to give Newcastle United a well-earned 2-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday which lifted them into third place in the Premier League standings. Their persistence was rewarded in the 65th minute when Allan Saint-Maximin's headed cross found Willock for a close-range header. Substitute Wilson put the game to bed in the 88th minute, heading in a freekick cross from Kieran Trippier. The victory was some sort of revenge for Newcastle losing 2-0 to Erik ten Hag's Manchester United in the League Cup final in February. United were missing the influence of midfielder Casemiro, who is serving a suspension, and defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka due to illness.

☆ Tottenham end unhappy relationship with Conte
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) - Antonio Conte's increasingly fractious relationship with Tottenham Hotspur came to an end with the Premier League club announcing they had parted ways with the Italian on Sunday. "We can announce that head coach Antonio Conte has left the club by mutual agreement," Tottenham said in a statement. "We achieved Champions League qualification in Antonio's first season at the club. "We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place," chairman Daniel Levy said in the statement. Conte leaves with Tottenham in fourth place in the Premier League and still well-placed to challenge for a top-four finish and qualify for the Champions League.

☆ Tottenham squander points in top-four race, Leeds out of bottom three
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Fourth-placed Tottenham have 49 points from 28 games with Newcastle United, who benefitted from a stoppage-time penalty to beat Nottingham Forest on Friday, have 47 points having played two games less. Bournemouth on 24 from 27 along with West Ham United who dropped into the relegation zone courtesy of Leeds United's impressive win at Wolves. Leicester have 25 points with Nottingham Forest, Everton and Leeds all on 26 and Wolves and Crystal Palace on 27. Tottenham substitute Pape Sarr was then adjudged in the 90th minute to have fouled Ainsley Maitland-Niles as he attempted to hack clear a bouncing ball and Ward-Prowse made no mistake to earn his side a point. Leeds will head into the international break above the relegation zone thanks to a superb display at Wolves.

☆ Saudi money is pouring into Hollywood and media, 5 years after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Here's who's cashing in and how.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Claire Atkinson | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Sovereign funds and other entities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are pouring millions into US media and entertainment. Saudi Arabia is trying to pitch itself to the world as a cultural and economic reformer and spur tourism. Even those media players that are comfortable with invetment from the Middle East may not find funds flowing, one Hollywood veteran said. A major live WWE event in Saudi Arabia is slated for May. Of the growing ties between US entertainment and media and Middle East investors, this person added, "Presumably media organizations got into this to help society make better decisions."

☆ Reaction to Lineker being pulled from presenting by the BBC
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But the decision to take Gary Lineker off air is indefensible. LABOUR PARTY LEADER KEIR STARMER"The BBC is not acting impartially by caving in to Tory MPs who are complaining about Gary Lineker." FORMER LABOUR LEADER JEREMY CORBYN"Well done Gary Lineker for standing up for refugees. FORMER CULTURE SECRETARY NADINE DORRIES"News that Gary Lineker has been stood down for investigation is welcome and shows BBC are serious about impartiality." "The perception out there is going to be that Gary Lineker, a much-loved television presenter, was taken off air after government pressure on a particular issue."

☆ Lethal Liverpool smash Manchester United for seven in record win
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Salah rubbed salt into United wounds with a close-range effort to score a record 129th Premier League goal for the Merseyside club, taking him past the mark of Robbie Fowler. Liverpool had thrashed United 4-0 at Anfield last April but considering the reversal of fortunes for the two clubs since, with United on the rise and Liverpool off the pace, this result was a major surprise. Liverpool's fourth win in five league matches lifted them above Newcastle United into fifth on 42 points, three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand. "Today you could see the energy levels and everything was back, although to be fair the last few Premier League games had shown we were on the right path." Liverpool's previous biggest win over United was a 7-1 victory in 1895 when both clubs were in the second tier.

☆ Arsenal seal thrilling comeback win, Man City maintain chase
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

City's 2-0 win sliced Arsenal's advantage to two points and when leaders Arsenal trailed 2-0 with an hour gone in north London it appeared their hold on top spot was weakening. Fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur's top-four ambitions suffered a dent as they went down 1-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers who are gradually pulling clear of the relegation zone. Arsenal had not won a Premier League game in which they had trailed by at least two goals since 2012 so the omens looked bad for the Gunners as they were stunned by Bournemouth. 'TRICKY GAME'There was no such drama at Manchester City with Phil Foden scoring an early beauty before substitute Bernardo Silva wrapped up the points in the second half. "We won the game, we didn't suffer much at the end -- an incredible result for us because it was a tricky game," City manager Pep Guardiola said.

☆ LIV Golf Fight Stirs Up Questions About Saudi Ownership of Newcastle United
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Joshua Robinson | Louise Radnofsky | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON—When Saudi Arabia’s sovereign-wealth fund took a majority interest in English soccer team Newcastle United in 2021, the Premier League set out a clear condition before approving the sale. Newcastle, the league said, couldn’t in any way be controlled by the government of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Public Investment Fund assured the league that the team’s operations would be free of state influence, despite the fund’s chairman being Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

☆ Howe says Newcastle still have long way to go
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Newcastle United's near 70-year domestic trophy drought will go on a little longer after Sunday's League Cup final defeat by Manchester United at Wembley. Since winning the FA Cup 68 years ago, Newcastle have three times finished as runners-up in the competition and have now lost two League Cup finals as well. There is genuine optimism that Newcastle are heading in the right direction under Eddie Howe, although the manager himself says they still have a long way to go. There is a long way to go to be the team we want to be," Howe told reporters after a disappointing return to Wembley. I hope we are a different Newcastle, but the competition is very high so we have to improve.

☆ Clinical Man Utd win League Cup in heartbreak for Newcastle
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Soccer Football - Carabao Cup - Final - Manchester United v Newcastle United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - February 26, 2023 Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire lift the trophy with teammates after winning the Carabao Cup final Action Images via Reuters/Andrew CouldridgeLONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Manchester United crushed Newcastle United's hopes of a claiming a first domestic trophy for nearly 70 years with a clinical 2-0 victory in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. Kicking towards their fans in the second half Newcastle roused themselves into action and pinned a leggy-looking United back at times but they rarely looked like scoring. The Tyneside club has now lost each of their last nine matches at Wembley, a run that began in the 1974 FA Cup final. Newcastle were full of energy early on with Allan Saint-Maximin dangerous whenever he got the ball. "No complaints with how we played, obviously the scoreline doesn't say that, and that's where football can be cruel," Newcastle manager Howe said.

☆ England's prized soccer league to face regulation and tough new ownership rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Fans of Chelsea Football Club protest against the European Super League outside Stamford Bridge on April 20, 2021 in London, England. LONDON — The U.K. government on Thursday confirmed plans to set up an independent regulator to oversee soccer clubs following a slew of controversies around acquisitions, new tournament plans and allegations of financial rule-breaking. It follows widespread fan opposition to plans for a new European Super League in 2021. Rights groups have previously insisted that potential Premier League club owners should be subjected to human rights probes. Currently, the rules prohibit prospective owners that have previous criminal convictions or breaches of major football regulations.

☆ Body of Ghana soccer player Atsu arrives home in Accra
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] The body of late Ghanaian soccer player, Christian Atsu Twasam, 31, who died in the earthquake in Turkey, arrives at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. REUTERS/Francis KokorokoACCRA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The body of Ghana winger Christian Atsu was flown home to Accra on Sunday evening, the day after he was found dead under a collapsed building in southern Turkey. Atsu had been missing since the Feb. 6 earthquake following the collapse of an apartment building in Hatay. "We hoped against hope, every day that passed, we prayed and prayed. "We would like to express our deepest condolences to his wife and children, the family, loved ones and the football community," the Ghana Football Association said on Saturday.

☆ 'I didn't watch Champions League final again until last weekend, it was torture' - Klopp
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LIVERPOOL, England, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp conceded that he had not been able to bring himself to rewatch last season's Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid until this past weekend, insisting reliving the experience was "torture". "Different things happened to us with Real Madrid," Klopp told a news conference on Monday. I didn't watch it back until this weekend and I know why I didn't watch it back now, it was proper torture. "We always work so hard for qualifying for the Champions League that I really think you have to cherish these moments. It's Real Madrid.

☆ Red-hot Rashford nets double as Man United see off Leicester
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANCHESTER, England, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford's superb run of form continued as he netted a goal in each half of his side's 3-0 Premier League win over Leicester City on Sunday to extend his scoring streak to five games. Leicester rang the changes in an effort to get back into the game but United continued to have the better chances, with Sancho and Wout Weghorst spurning good opportunities to add a fourth. United moved on to 49 points, three behind second-placed Manchester City after 24 games and five adrift of leaders Arsenal, who have played a game less. Fourth-placed Newcastle United trail Manchester United by eight points. Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ghanaian Soccer Star Christian Atsu Found Dead After Turkey Earthquake
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Gabriele Steinhauser | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Atsu previously played for Newcastle United. His body will be sent back to Ghana. Christian Atsu’s body has been found in the rubble of a building that collapsed in Turkey’s earthquakes, the Ghanaian soccer player’s agent and club said Saturday. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce to all well wishers that sadly Christian Atsu’s body was recovered this morning,” Nana Sechere, the player’s agent, said in a message on Twitter.

☆ Soccer’s new M&A binge will mostly benefit players
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Streisand Neto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Qatari consortium is set to make a $6 billion offer for Man Utd, home to stars including Marcus Rashford, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. The Financial Times reported that Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi is preparing a $3.8 billion swoop on Harry Kane’s Tottenham Hotspur. The Qataris’ reported Man Utd offer of $6 billion would value the New York-listed club at 8.6 times trailing revenue. Man Utd, whose financial advisers are U.S. investment bank Raine Group, has set an initial Feb. 17 deadline for bids. The Financial Times on Feb. 15 reported that Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi was preparing a $3.8 billion offer for Tottenham Hotspur.

☆ Investors recognising clubs' value ahead of Man Utd bids, says finance expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Sophie Penney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

United (MANU.N) are set to receive multiple offers ahead of the initial deadline for bids expiring later on Friday, kicking off potentially the largest sports deal ever. "Football is big, big business from an investment standpoint," said Joyce, CEO & co-founder of CLV Group. "The bar's been set in terms of the value of sports teams and football teams in particular as brands." FINANCIAL INCENTIVEThe Glazers bought United for 790 million pounds ($947 million) in 2005, and Joyce said there was plenty of financial incentive for them to sell the club. "We've looked at India and Indonesia as well where there's at least 100 million pounds plus.

☆ Momentum with Man City as Arsenal seek to regain winning touch
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Had Arsenal beaten City in the top-of-the-table clash they could have been heading into Saturday's lunchtime kickoff at Aston Villa with the chance to move nine points clear. Arsenal's lunchtime kickoff at Villa gives them the opportunity to lay down a marker and move three points clear again. Villa have suffered back-to-back defeats under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery for the first time since he took charge, but the Spaniard would take satisfaction from getting one over Arteta, the man who replaced him at Arsenal. With so much of the focus on Arsenal and City, Manchester United have quietly moved themselves to within touching distance of the top two. Bournemouth, in 19th place, travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers while third-from-bottom Everton host Leeds United who are just one point above them in 17th.

☆ Relieved Klopp hails Liverpool's 'statement' win over Everton
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 14 (Reuters) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said he was relieved after his team won their first Premier League game of 2023 by beating city rivals Everton 2-0 on Monday and urged them to use the "statement" victory to reignite their season. "The performance was a statement for us that we can do this ... Klopp said Liverpool had played like their true selves against Everton but that they had to keep delivering that level of performance. It gave us all the signs that was us tonight, and now we have to make sure it is us from now on." Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Leaders Arsenal held at home by Brentford, sorry Spurs thrashed at Leicester
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Peter Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Brighton, who have not lost this year, were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace. An eight-point advantage in the table beckoned for Mikel Arteta's side but they never looked comfortable against an enterprising Brentford who should have been ahead by halftime. The visitors got their deserved point through Ivan Toney, who pounced in the 72nd minute to head in Christian Norgaard's cross. Only Harry Kane has netted more away goals in the Premier League this season than the Brentford striker. SORRY SPURSWith manager Antonio Conte back in the dugout after missing their win against Manchester City last Sunday following gallbladder surgery, Spurs made a good start at Leicester.

☆ Ghanaian player Atsu's partner appeals for equipment to help rescue in Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 10 (Reuters) - Claire Rupio, partner of soccer player Christian Atsu who remains missing after two devastating earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, has called for equipment to be sent to the collapsed building where the Hatayspor winger was living. Atsu, was reported to have been rescued from the rubble with injuries and transported to hospital after the quakes. However, Hatayspor director Volkan Demirel told Reuters on Wednesday the Ghanaian player was still missing. "The situation remains the same, Christian Atsu has still not been found. Atsu, 31, joined Hatayspor in September of last year after nearly a decade at English clubs Chelsea and Newcastle United.

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