Make human rights a condition in Premier League ownership test
Premier League
The footballing communitiy has rightly taken swift action to condemn and respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But why have similar responses not been seen to the human rights abuses condoned or orchestrated by owners of other Premier League clubs?
In 2021, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund took a controlling stake in Newcastle United. The PIF passed the Premier League's Owner's and Director's Test, despite the Saudi state waging an ongoing war in Yemen and being connected to the murder of journalist Jamal Khasoggi.
Other owners connected to alleged human rights abuses, including Sheikh Mansour, Gao Jisheng and Roman Abramovich, have easily passed the test in recent years.
We welcome reports that the Premier League is considering reforms to the Test that would make respect for human rights a key condition for ownership of any Premier League club.
But this now needs to be made a reality.
Human rights must be a key component of the Owner's and Director's Test for any new owners. And a rigorous review should be carried out into existing owners of Premier League clubs and their respect for human rights.
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Allowing individuals, companies and governments implicated in human rights abuses is bringing the beautiful game into disrepute and pushing fans further away from the clubs they love.
We welcome reports that the Premier League is considering reforms to the Test that would make respect for human rights a key condition for ownership of any Premier League club. But this needs to be made a reality.
We call on you to immediately introduce a new component to the Owner's and Director's Test that would prevent any potential club owner who does not respect human rights, or abuses the rights of others, from taking a controlling stake.
A rigorous review of existing owners and their respect for human rights should also take place.