Home Football Richard Masters, Premier League CEO, Unfazed by Saudi Arabia’s Rising Football Influence

Richard Masters, Premier League CEO, Unfazed by Saudi Arabia’s Rising Football Influence

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Saudi Arabia's influence in football

Richard Masters, the Premier League’s Chief Executive Officer, has expressed a lack of concern regarding the burgeoning influence of Saudi Arabia in the world of football.

The start of 2023 saw football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo making a surprising move to the Saudi Pro League, triggering a series of high-profile transfers following suit during the summer.

Notably, Al-Hilal club has also placed a staggering world-record bid of £259m for French forward and Paris St-Germain star, Kylian Mbappe.

“There’s a new dynamic unfolding,” Masters observed in an interview with Sport Newes Center’s Alex Howell.

The Saudi Pro League has publicly announced its ambition to rank among the top 10 football leagues by 2030, backing it with significant investments in players and managers to elevate the league and club profiles.

Masters pointed out that it took three decades for the Premier League to reach its current status of high profile, competitive edge, and lucrative revenue streams. Despite Saudi Arabia’s strategic moves, Masters feels there is no immediate cause for concern.

“Saudi Arabian clubs, like all others, have the legitimate right to acquire players,” Masters stated. “At the end of the day, the Premier League is a £6bn annual operation in revenue terms, with these funds plowed back into the game. Sound competition requires robust financial backing.”

Numerous big-name transfers to the Saudi Pro League have occurred recently, with Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema moving from Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad. The club has also signed ex-Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and Portuguese forward Jota from Celtic. They proposed a £40m bid for Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder, Fabinho.

In addition, Brazil’s Roberto Firmino, after ending his contract with Liverpool, has joined Al-Ahli, who also secured the services of Chelsea’s Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez for a £30m deal.

Al-Ettifaq, now under the leadership of ex-Rangers and Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard, has also agreed to sign Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson for £12m plus additional payments.

Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Fulham, and Newcastle are participating in the Premier League Summer Series held in the United States during the pre-season. Masters regards the impressive crowds at these matches as a testament to the Premier League’s consistent growth.

He said, “We’ve attracted 105,000 spectators over two days. 18 goals. It’s going exceedingly well.”

A decade ago, the Premier League was viewed as a niche interest, but Masters believes that it has now become more mainstream, leaving a significant domestic and international impact.

There are speculations that Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin will move to Al-Ahli, owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also owns the Newcastle club.

Concerns have risen that the transfer fee for the French winger might be artificially high, potentially aiding Newcastle to conform to Financial Fair Play regulations. However, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe believes that the expected transfer will meet the Premier League’s approval.

Masters emphasized that the Premier League’s rules, particularly the “associated party transaction rules” enacted 18 months ago, should prevent such a situation, ensuring fair market value through “comparable evidence” and “independent assessments”.

“Our regulations are solid. They’re relatively recent but are well-equipped to handle this kind of transaction,” concluded Masters.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Saudi Arabia’s influence in football

Question: Is Richard Masters concerned about Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in football?

Answer: No, Richard Masters, the CEO of the Premier League, stated that he is “not too concerned at the moment” about Saudi Arabia’s increasing presence in football. He acknowledged that the Saudi Pro League aims to become a top 10 league by 2030 and is investing in players and managers to raise its profile and competitiveness. However, Masters believes that all leagues have the right to purchase players, and the Premier League’s strong revenue streams contribute to its ability to remain competitive.

Question: What notable transfers have taken place in the Saudi Pro League?

Answer: The Saudi Pro League has seen several significant transfers, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s move in January and a world record £259m bid from Al-Hilal for Kylian Mbappe of Paris St-Germain and France. Additionally, notable transfers include Karim Benzema to Al-Ittihad, N’Golo Kante and Jota to Al-Ittihad, Fabinho to Al-Ahli, Roberto Firmino to Al-Ahli, Edouard Mendy from Chelsea to Al-Ahli, Riyad Mahrez to Al-Ahli, and Jordan Henderson to Al-Ettifaq. These high-profile moves have contributed to the league’s growing influence.

Question: How does Richard Masters view the Premier League’s growth?

Answer: Richard Masters highlighted the Premier League’s growth during a pre-season Summer Series held in the United States. He noted the presence of 105,000 fans over two days and 18 goals, indicating a positive response to the league’s games abroad. Masters believes that the Premier League’s partnership with NBC has played a crucial role in making the league more mainstream and impactful internationally.

Question: Are there concerns about potential inflated transfer fees in the Saudi Pro League?

Answer: Yes, there have been reports suggesting concerns about inflated transfer fees in the Saudi Pro League. Some rival Premier League clubs worry that Newcastle’s transfer of Allan Saint-Maximin to Al-Ahli, which is run by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), might involve an artificially high transfer fee. This could potentially help Newcastle comply with Financial Fair Play regulations. However, Premier League CEO Richard Masters asserted that the league’s “associated party transaction rules” should prevent such scenarios by ensuring fair market value through independent assessments and comparable evidence.

Question: How does Richard Masters view the robustness of the Premier League’s rules?

Answer: Richard Masters believes that the Premier League’s rules are robust, despite being relatively new (enacted 18 months ago). He expressed confidence that the rules, including the “associated party transaction rules,” are well-equipped to handle transactions like the potential transfer of Allan Saint-Maximin. These rules are designed to determine fair market value and prevent any undue financial advantage between clubs owned by the same entity, ensuring fairness and transparency in player transfers.

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4 comments

KickItNow July 25, 2023 - 6:36 am

saudi pro league takin’ over, big names switchin’ sides! ronaldo, mbappe, benzema, wow! masters not bothered, thinks they can buy players like any league. prem league growin’ big in USA, fans lovin’ it. summer series fire!

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SoccerFan23 July 25, 2023 - 10:44 am

richard masters is like, no worry ’bout saudi arabia football thing. they got ronaldo & stuff makin’ moves, u kno? saudi pro league wannabe top 10 by 2030, investin’ in players & managers, tryna get famous. prem league been here 30 yrs, they rich now! no biggie right now, all leagues buy players. money back in the game!

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GoalGetter77 July 25, 2023 - 11:21 am

inflated fees in saudi pro league? possible! newcastle’s saint-maximin deal raisin’ eyebrows. but masters say rules strong, can’t fool ’em. fair market value, no shady biz! prem league’s kickin’ off, goin’ global, makin’ impact! NBC part of the magic.

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SoccerAddict91 July 25, 2023 - 5:09 pm

masters chill ’bout saudi influence, i’m not so sure tho. world record bids, big names movin’, saudi pro league mean biz! summer series, fan frenzy, footie gettin’ wild in USA. but let’s see, rules gotta keep things fair.

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