Ahead of Newcastle United’s 2018-19 opening Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur, the Magpies are facing a potential fine from the Premier League.

According to reports from The Guardian, Newcastle players “remain locked in a row” with club owner Mike Ashley over bonus payments, and they have refused to undergo any media commitments until the problem is resolved.

As a result the Magpies are facing a potential fine from the Premier League “occasioned by the breach of contractual obligations to broadcast rights holders”.

Newcastle players are legally obliged to present themselves to broadcasters including Sky, but now the players are refusing to meet the media.

In fact, they refused requests to film the “walk up” shots used by the television companies. Last summer, Newcastle players reached an agreement with Ashley and Lee Charnley, over win bonuses and other incentive-linked payments.

Rafael Benitez is hoping that the issue will soon be sorted out, but in the meantime, the players are declining all requests to speak to newspaper journalists.

The Guardian reports that the Premier league is within its right to fine Newcastle for Monday’s breach of rules, but they expect a compromise to be reached and the shots needed for the Spurs match to be obtained in time.

Not an ideal preparation ahead of Spurs clash 

Certainly, this is not an ideal preparation ahead of Newcastle’s season- opener against Spurs.

There is already a sense of frustration (judging by the majority of fans’ reaction on social media) among the fans after owner Mike Ashley failed yet again to provide Rafael Benitez the much needed funds to bring in the type of players he wants.

Newcastle fans are very supportive of their players and this latest act will further infuriate the fans against the club owner.

However, as The Guardian reported, the club should be able to solve the problem, but then again it comes as a pesky distraction ahead of the brand new season.