<p>Saudi Arabia is set to lift its ban on Qatar-based beIN Sports, a source said Wednesday, potentially removing a long-standing point of friction and smoothing the way for a Saudi takeover of English side Newcastle United.</p>.<p>Saudi Arabia in 2017 banned the major Arab broadcaster, which holds rights to the English Premier League, at the start of a diplomatic and transport blockade of Qatar which ended in January.</p>.<p>Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Doha in June 2017 over allegations it supported extremists and was too close to arch-rival Iran.</p>.<p>Qatar always denied the accusations.</p>.<p>"Saudi Arabia's 4.5 year illegal ban on beIN is going to be reversed," the source close to the matter told <em>AFP</em>, in a sign of improving relations between the two countries.</p>.<p>The source added that Riyadh was seeking to settle Qatar's $1 billion arbitration claim over pirate broadcasts to Saudi audiences by a network called beoutQ.</p>.<p>Riyadh denied having anything to do with beoutQ.</p>.<p>Saudi Arabia's failure to take action against beoutQ was a key reason for the Premier League's decision last year to effectively block a £300 million ($370 million) bid for Newcastle that included the Saudi Public Investment Fund.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>Saudi Arabia is set to lift its ban on Qatar-based beIN Sports, a source said Wednesday, potentially removing a long-standing point of friction and smoothing the way for a Saudi takeover of English side Newcastle United.</p>.<p>Saudi Arabia in 2017 banned the major Arab broadcaster, which holds rights to the English Premier League, at the start of a diplomatic and transport blockade of Qatar which ended in January.</p>.<p>Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Doha in June 2017 over allegations it supported extremists and was too close to arch-rival Iran.</p>.<p>Qatar always denied the accusations.</p>.<p>"Saudi Arabia's 4.5 year illegal ban on beIN is going to be reversed," the source close to the matter told <em>AFP</em>, in a sign of improving relations between the two countries.</p>.<p>The source added that Riyadh was seeking to settle Qatar's $1 billion arbitration claim over pirate broadcasts to Saudi audiences by a network called beoutQ.</p>.<p>Riyadh denied having anything to do with beoutQ.</p>.<p>Saudi Arabia's failure to take action against beoutQ was a key reason for the Premier League's decision last year to effectively block a £300 million ($370 million) bid for Newcastle that included the Saudi Public Investment Fund.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>