Media reports say English Premier League team Newcastle United will soon be acquired by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. Read more:
Saudi Arabia's $430 billion sovereign wealth fund PIF is at the centre of the kingdom's efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil.
Saudi Arabia lifted that ban on Wednesday, clearing a major hurdle to the Newcastle deal. But concerns about the kingdom's human rights record remain. "We've sent the Premier League a suggested new human rights-compliant test and we reiterate our call on them to overhaul their standards on this."Saudi Arabia's government denies allegations of human rights abuses and says it is protecting national security from extremists and external actors.
Separately, Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, urged the Premier League not to approve the takeover.