Tuesday evening’s Champions League meeting in Paris goes far beyond football, even if it is being heralded as this gameweek’s must-watch billing. In what would have been a highly politically-charged meeting behind the scenes not all that long ago, see our Newcastle vs PSG owners comparison to see which state-backed club is wealthier.
The Saudi-owned hosts welcome their Qatari-owned opponents as two of football’s emerging superpowers collide in sport’s biggest club competition.
Aside from what should be a footballing spectacle, the prevailing narrative of two state-backed teams, whose owners hail from nations that were at loggerheads with each other until two years ago, makes for a unique pre-match conversation.
Saudi Arabia, along with the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain, severed diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017 in what is now known as the ‘Gulf blockade.’ The 2022 World Cup host nation were barred from using surrounding airspaces, as well as land and sea crossings, with the aforementioned members of the Gulf Cooperation Council citing Qatar’s alleged support for terrorist groups.
With genuine fears that Qatar may well have been invaded by their much larger neighbours now all but diminished, Tuesday’s meeting is no longer underpinned by a cold war, although observers on both sides may cast their eyes towards the French capital with emotional investment.
Newcastle and PSG is a very modern rivalry in every sense of the word; two of the wealthiest oil-and-gas-rich nations, both of whom possess next-to-no history within football, grappling with each other for supremacy on the global stage.
This game of one-upmanship is almost certainly being won by Qatar after hosting the World Cup and transforming a PSG side on its knees into serial domestic winners.
However, Saudi Arabia’s boundless sovereign wealth fund have already fired a huge retort back across the Gulf after a breathtaking 4-1 in the reverse of this fixture, as the Champions League returned to St James’ Park for the first time in two decades in gameweek two.
Newcastle vs PSG Owners Compared
PSG – Qatar Sports Investments (QSI)
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, is the owner of PSG through Qatar Sports Investments.
QSI’s ambition to utilise sport as a vehicle to drive Qatar’s global presence has shown little signs of slowing down. Their portfolio also now boasts a minority stake in Portuguese club Braga, who are competing in this year’s Champions League despite concerns over UEFA’s multi-club ownership guidelines.
How Much Are They Worth?
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s personal net worth is estimated to be anywhere between $1.2 billion to $2.1 billion, making him the 10th richest royal figure in the world according to CooPWB.
The Qatari royal family’s combined estimated wealth is believed to be in the region of $335 billion.
Controversies
Qatar’s strong national identity is often called into question, perhaps none more so than when hosting last winter’s World Cup.
Allowing the most celebrated sporting event on the planet onto their shores shone a light on their controversial stance on same-sex relationships, while suggestions that as many as 6,500 migrant workers died constructing the stadiums marred the build-up to the tournament.
Add to that strong accusations of bribery to FIFA in order to host the tournament – one of the many alleged cases in the 2015 corruption ordeal – although no proof has ever been found.
PSG’s president Nasser al-Khelaifi, who chairs the European Club Association, has also garnered his fair share of critics in the past for violating Financial Fair Play regulations, as well as funnelling short-term capital injections for unsustainable oil.
Newcastle – Public Investment Fund (PFI)
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PFI) channels funds from its rich oil reserves to various sporting and philanthropic endeavours, on behalf on the government.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs the PFI, although the Premier League received ‘legally binding’ assurances that he has no control over Newcastle United.
Instead, the PFI’s governor and the Crown Prince’s right-hand man Yasir Al-Rumayyan handles the day-to-day on Tyneside.
Saudi Arabia’s 80% stake is made whole by fellow investors PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media, who entered into the joint-venture in 2021.
The PFI have since taken control of the Saudi Pro League’s top four teams – Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal – which of course led to a staggering period of investment over the summer to attract some of Europe’s brightest talents.
How Much Are They Worth?
The PFI is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world, valued at around £315 billion.
Mohammed bin Salman’s personal net worth is estimated to be $25 billion, and was ranked by Forbes as the eighth most powerful person in the world.
Controversies
Much like PSG’s links to Qatar’s sovereignty, the closeness of Saudi’s royal wealth and their investment in Newcastle has left people uneasy.
Not least due to Saudi Arabia’s hardline anti-LGBT laws, which in some cases can be punishable by death.
Controversy in relations to other human rights such as the mistreatment of women in society have also been called into question, while government executions after unfair trials and citizens jailed for peaceful protests all threatened to overshadow Newcastle’s takeover.
There is also the case of the 2018 murder of exiled journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was a sharp critic of Mohammed bin Salman.
Although the Crown Prince has constantly denied any involvement, Saudi’s attorney general has since admitted it was premeditated while the CIA also concluded Salman ordered the gruesome dismemberment of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
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