English soccer’s impartial regulator faces a “defining test” as Saudi Arabian authorities official Turki Al-Sheikh makes an attempt to put money into Derby County, says Amnesty International.
Al-Sheikh, who has beforehand owned soccer golf equipment in Spain and Egypt and is now among the many strongest figures in world boxing, is trying to purchase a stake within the Championship facet.
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As chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority – and somebody who’s a outstanding determine within the shut circle of the nation’s de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman – 44-year-old Al-Sheikh has been criticised by human rights teams for his function in alleged ‘sportswashing’ by Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has been accused of utilizing sport and tradition to enhance its repute and to distract from the nation’s poor human rights document, therapy of ladies, use of the demise penalty and its anti-LGBT stance.
Al-Sheikh will want approval from the impartial soccer regulator (IFR) – a physique that was fashioned solely final 12 months to safeguard the long run and integrity of the sport.
The IFR has establish a new owners, directors and senior executives test, taking over the accountability beforehand held by English Football League when it got here to new investment in Championship sides.
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Both our bodies, in addition to Derby County, have declined to touch upon Al-Sheikh’s curiosity within the Championship facet when contacted by the BBC, as have Al-Sheikh’s representatives.
“This is a defining test for English football’s new independent regulator,” mentioned Felix Jakens, head of campaigns at human rights group Amnesty International UK.
“Will it allow a senior representative of a government directly implicated in mass human rights violations to take control of one of the country’s oldest football clubs? The regulator must ask these questions and answer them transparently.”
With Premier League facet Newcastle United already owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Amnesty International mentioned any stake purchased by Al-Sheikh “would mark a significant expansion of Saudi Arabia’s footprint in English football”.
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Amnesty say 356 folks had been executed in Saudi Arabia final 12 months – a new record which has been condemned by human rights groups.
“The serious questions surrounding Saudi involvement in sport anywhere in the world are just as relevant here,” mentioned Jakens.
“Al-Sheikh shouldn’t be a non-public businessman. He is the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.“
‘Many excited… lots of people uncomfortable’
Al-Sheikh has beforehand had takeover talks at Bristol City and proven curiosity in investing in Southampton and Millwall prior to now.
His newest curiosity in Derby and present hyperlinks to Newcastle United’s backers may also elevate questions round multi-club possession in English soccer.
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The Premier League’s homeowners’ and administrators’ take a look at forbids any particular person or entity from not directly or instantly figuring out the administration of multiple English league membership.
Rams proprietor David Clowes, the Derbyshire property developer that purchased the membership out of administration in the summertime of 2022, has been looking for new investors since 2024. Clowes has beforehand mentioned he might be open to promoting upwards of 80% of his share within the membership.
Derby’s fan base is cut up on the potential investment, with some revelling within the prospects of what a billionaire’s involvement may imply for the membership, whereas others have expressed moral objections.
Rams fan Nick Webster, who featured on a latest BBC Radio Derby Sportscene at Six dialogue about Al-Sheikh’s transfer to get entangled within the East Midlands facet, mentioned there’s “no skirting around” how the fanbase will likely be divided.
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“Many are excited by the billions that potentially could be invested, and then there are the human rights and all the other issues that are going on. Then there will be people in the middle, and it will make a lot of people uncomfortable,” Webster mentioned.
Al-Sheikh has turn into synonymous with boxing in recent times, taking high-profile bouts to Saudi Arabia, together with world title fights involving Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
But he additionally had an attention-grabbing involvement in soccer.
In 2018 he purchased Egyptian facet Al Assiouty Sport, then renamed the membership Pyramids FC and relocated it to Cairo – 250 miles away. By 2019 he had left the membership.
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He then went on to buy Spanish side Almeria for €20m (£17.2m) when the facet was within the second division.
They had been promoted to the top-flight after three seasons however he went on to promote the membership, once they had been again within the second tier, to Mohammed Al-Khereiji in May 2025 – a change of possession which paved the way in which for Cristiano Ronaldo to become co-owner of the facet in February.
Turki Al-Sheikh (not pictured) was closely concerned in organising the world title battle between Oleksandr Usyk (left) and Rico Verhoeven (proper) at “The Pyramids of Giza” card in Egypt final month [Getty Images]
Derby County supporter Sam Jones is a boxing supervisor who has labored with Al-Sheikh. The 37-year-old mentioned he was “excited straight away” by the prospect of the Saudi sport supremo serving to bankroll the Rams’ ambitions of getting again to the Premier League after nearly 20 years away.
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Jones mentioned the boxing spectacle that Al-Sheikh took to the Pyramids of Giza in May – which was headlined by Usyk’s world title battle with Rico Verhoeven, and included his personal fighter Jack Catterall on the undercard – was an eye catching instance of what he has been capable of ship.
“In my 10 years in boxing I’ve been to some very mad places, and my fighter Jack has just won a world title [WBA ‘regular’ welterweight belt] on the foot of the pyramids,” Jones informed BBC Radio Derby.
“Before Jack’s ring walk, about half an hour before, there was a bit of a sandstorm. It was completely crazy. But to have that type of vision for boxing, to put on a show there, you’ve got to have serious ambition.
“And if Turki Al-Sheikh does take over the membership or make investments closely within the membership, no matter he is doing, and he places in 1 / 4 of the hassle that he has performed with boxing, making all the largest fights come true, then Derby County followers should be very excited.”
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