THE RECENT news concerning Newcastle United’s possible takeover by the Saudi Arabian Sovereign Wealth Fund has sparked fresh debates around Middle Eastern and Asian interest in European and British football. Football’s legions of followers often get over-excited about the prospect of their club being taken over by a rich benefactor, but knowing your investor is a mandatory element of due diligence when it comes to assessing the credibility and motives of a potential owner. Sovereign Wealth Funds have around US$ 8 trillion of funds under management, which is more than the hedge fund and private equity communities. Among the new investors in the first decade of the 21st century that brought a different perspective to the game and underlined its globalisation was Qatar Sports…