National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell says Las Vegas Sands casino magnate Sheldon Adelson never stood a chance at acquiring an ownership stake in the Oakland Raiders.

On Monday, Adelson issued a statement saying he was withdrawing his $650m commitment to help build a new stadium in Las Vegas that would serve as the new home of the Raiders should their relocation plans be approved by the other NFL owners.

Raiders owner Mark Davis quickly suggested the stadium deal was still a go and that investment bank Goldman Sachs would help make up the shortfall caused by Adelson’s withdrawal. But Tuesday brought news that Goldman Sachs was also pulling out of the deal, putting the Raiders relocation plans on seriously shaky ground.

On Wednesday, Goodell (pictured) held his annual pre-Super Bowl Q&A with the media, during which he was queried regarding Adelson’s alleged demand for an ownership stake in the Raiders in exchange for his financial assistance.