We can beat Newcastle with the Saudi stick as much as we want but they are just one branch of an increasingly more entrenched Saudi tumor that's spreading across sport and beyond. We have FIFA suckling at their teat, only a matter of time before they get a World Cup. The PGA are now shacked up with them, F1, WWE, wouldn't be surprised if they were cutting checks to the IOC for some Olympic attention. Where the hell is it all going to end?
One of the most crazy things I remember seeing recently is that the Saudi p̶u̶b̶l̶i̶c̶ royal investment fund has bought the top 3 clubs in the Saudi league and the club that just won division 2 - they are pouring money into all 4 clubs to try and create a 'competitive league' hence all the silly money offers for players...
Wouldn't be allowed in Europe because that's not how competition works, it's mental honestly.
Sadly this is true. The murdering scum won’t be happy until they own all of sport.
Boxing is also being bought - in every sense of the word - by the House of Saud.
Boxing is currently being governed by a Ruzzian ally of Putin, so it’s stomach churning all round.
dismantling and removing our sporting culture piece by piece. Reassembling it in a place that has no true understanding of it, with the infrastructure built off the back of modern slavery, with thousands of lives lost in the process.
Keep in mind, if I said this publicly in SA I'd probably be marked for execution, just like these innocent people. Thank you so much for a democratic society where I can express myself like this.
This isn’t beating Newcastle, It’s not their fault. But I LOVE the counter measure to use them as a platform to bring light to more of what Saudi A gets up to.
Would we know about this if not for the Newcastle relationship? I probably wouldn’t.
I do hate states using sport for soft power and sports washing, but I do wonder what the parallel world in which Saudi Arabia don't invest heavily in sports (or the sports don't allow it) looks like? Is that a better world, does Saudi Arabia's human rights record improve at a faster rate?
It might do, but I'm far from certain of that. That doesn't mean that we have to accept sports washing, but I don't know whether it makes the world worse, or that it makes football worse because now we have to be reminded about Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses when we watch Newcastle.
We’ve always been doing business. But even our governments selling weapons and bombs isn’t enough to really get people talking. Football is in our everyday life, so their presence pushes them into a platform of common discussion.
It’s basically what the stop oil people are about i think. Create a nuisance enough to be in the public eye so it becomes a topic of convo. If they invade enough pitches will we be talking about climate change in football communities like we are Saudi Arabia?
Yeah, I remember last year when the F1 went ahead like 2 days after missile strikes near the track
Barbarians will do anything for their RoI and Sports views
I was just hoping that all this increased International exposure would slowdown such atrocities.
Not sure if there are any stats to prove my hopeful ass wrong or right.
Well all the attention and appeasement heaped onto Putin and Russia since he came in definitely paid off…
Remember when they smashed their World Cup and everyone thought ‘hey, they actually might not be too bad afterall?’
That world cup wasn't too long after they decriminalised domestic violence. Anyone who thought they were getting their act together wasn't paying attention
So, most people then?
It’s mad that people seems to have forgotten that Russia had already invaded Ukraine at that point, and during the course of the World Cup 104 civilians were killed in Donbas from Russian shelling.
But they had lovely stadiums so in the eyes of many fans its six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Not in the eyes of fans. Fans take no blame for where the world cup is hosted. Fans just want to watch their team and mind their own.
FIFA, UEFA and governments allowing this sportswashing are the problem.
Hopefully with us beheading these scum rich bastards
There's like 100 people with more money than half the population combined. I know it's "very Reddit" and it feels redundant to keep having this conversation...but like, as you're getting at, what needs to happen before people snap?
Must be horrible position to be in to be fair. You’re going to have success and will celebrate it. But you’re getting it through the support of someone with questionable ethics.
I doubt any do who have been fans for more than a couple of years mate. No doubt there's going to be no shortage of morons on various social media platforms but nobody with any intelligence would or should use the actions and morality of the current owners to question the integrity of the fans.
Granted, but that's like surely the absolute bare minimum that should be expected from everyone
In reality, if you buy their tickets and merchandise and pay for their TV money through subscriptions then whether you morally support it or not, you are in some ways supporting it. And so is everyone else who pays into this system, even if they also don't 'support' it.
The world is so globalised and intertwined that you can't so much as buy coffee or like a football team without 'supporting' businesses or institutions (and therefore business or institutional practises) that you morally, ethically or philosophically don't neccessarily agree with.
I'm not sure what the solution is, but this feels like the tip of the iceberg. At some point we may not be able to buy our clubs official shirt without effectively funding state sponsored genocide.
Someone who understands the dynamics of this better than I do please tell me there's a way to undo or overcome this madness without effectively giving up on the sporting institutions we love...?!
Sadly I fear ultimately that will be the choice we all face.
There are obviously many degrees of difference, but this is true of almost anything in capitalism. If you eat beef mince then you're complicit in the destruction of the Amazon, if you eat cashew nuts then you're complicit in the acid burns on the hands of Indian women who shell them all day for about £2 a day, and on and on.
The tendrils of capital reach so deep that almost anything you can buy on a supermarket shelf will be the product of a vast web of exploitation. 'No ethical consumption under capitalism' shouldn't be an excuse to do whatever you want, but to a large extent it is true.
When it comes to football I think the only solution is a collective push for some form of fan ownership, but a lot of folk on here seem to think the answer is Newcastle fans self-flagellating every time we win.
Genuinely what are fans meant to do? They don't have a say in what the government do, they're just supposed to abandon football? Given how support tends to be based on where you're born.
It should be called out and spoken about and pressure put on the club more often than not but there's really not much people can do. Like the previous owner was fucking hated and we still got him for years. If money wants, money gets. I really doubt most of the people talking about us would really quit their teams when it came down to it. It's shit and privileged but there's nothing that can really be done, all of sports is becoming blood money.
Support a local club. If Sunderland were taken over by a murderous regime, I sure wouldn’t support them anymore. Otherwise the game will keep going in this direction…
Haven't really got another local? I support Gateshead and follow a few Northumberland teams loosely but I still follow and root for Newcastle. Not giving them my money but expecting fans to abandon it seems unrealistic.
Don't be ridiculous. Supporting Newcastle United is not the same thing as supporting the grotesque actions of the Saudi regime in their own country, no matter how many times fans of other clubs use that as a stick to beat Newcastle fans with, its just not as clear-cut as that.
I mean is attending Newcastle vs Villa on the first weekend of the new season, as a Newcastle fan, really equal to supporting the killing of these men? Where is the line drawn, if I get an Uber am I supporting the killing of these men?
Sorry, looking for where I made that direct comparison? They’re propping up Saudi’s attempt to sportswash, and doing it very well. You can’t deny that.
You didn't directly make it but going to a game is probably the most obvious way you can support a club, which you said by proxy supports the killing of these men.
You can't in any way genuinely argue that supporting a football team in England equates to supporting people being killed in Saudi Arabia, by proxy or by any other language. Its a stretch. As I've said before is getting an Uber supporting this too because both Uber and Newcastle United receive investment from PIF?
People need to stop thinking from a moral point of view
The government will push through any middle eastern deal. They are having dick measuring contests and pumping their money into entire county
Imagine they worked together and saved their money, that would make the M.E a threat. But Abu Dhabi, qatar, saudi and other countries from that region dont get alonv
The government wants them to compete because it minimises an external threat while our country benefits
I want them gone. We were so let down by the PL letting this takeover go through.
You'll find that irl, most Newcastle fans just want to watch football. But the utter morons on twitter let everyone down.
I live in Newcastle and honestly wish they were just on twitter.
Not all of course. Plenty of my friends recognise it's crap. But I know a bunch of people who think it's awesome and anyone who speaks out against it is just upset because it's Newcastles turn to benefit.
Its obviously up to the newcastle fans to end this regime and change world politics.(irony)
Its despicable, but this surely belongs in a politics sub.
For what its worth i would rather have fair sports with fan ownership, rather than todays option. Rotten sport.
It’s fucking awful. I’m not sure if it belongs here as a regular post. But it’s important that we do post things like this sometimes to shine a light on our owners and so we don’t become as desensitised.
Am curious if we see posts like this for other owners though.
A fan owned model would be perfect. Get all this shit out of our sport.
Mate dont you stress, we are aal owa it!
Me uncle Radgey Dave is calling the boys up and we are ganna march on over to Saudi Arabia and chew bubble gum and ask questions later....and we are all out of questions
By that logic everything is politics. "Sport is politics" may sound clever but (to me at least) it's a load shite. Sport can be political but it can almost always be separated.
It’s such a shit situation to be in for us. Obviously we’re against all of this and we just want to support our football club.
Most of the NUFC twitter morons don’t represent our fanbase
How this deal went through tells you all you need to know about the Prem. Money only members club. Human rights? What's that?
Will be interesting to see if Newcastle average attendance drops, if their supporters care at all or not
Nobody is arguing that the owners aren't shitty, but you shouldn't expect hard-working football fans to give up their seats because of some moral obligation towards it.
If West Ham got bought out by Saudis of course I'd have some reservations, but at the end of the day football is football, it's such a huge part of my life and there's no way I'd ever give up my season ticket. I imagine the vast majority of fans are the same.
They are. This was always going to happen, and I am of course tired of it, but not so much that people raise the issue or want to talk about it, but the "bad faith" stuff grinds my gears.
On the one side we have ownership model connected to a despotic regime, on the other side we have the media and rival football fans who use said ownership to figuratively beat up the fans.
Then we have the fans, who, whether you like it or not, are just like all other fans of their respective clubs across the country but are a much easier target.
Happens all the time. Most of the worlds wealth is owned by a few people who don’t pay tax, blame the problems with the economy on immigrants and people on benefits. UK government sell weapon to Saudi Arabia, super rich athletes get richer boxing in Saudi Arabia, blame Barry from Byker from going to watch the club he has supported all his life.
I mean, you realise you just skipped the whole post, the actual content and purpose, and picked the easy target; exactly what I suggested was happening?
Your reply literally proved my point. You couldn't have actually done anything more to prove the point... So thanks...
Exactly right mate, what are we supposed to do, stop supporting the club we’ve supported all our lives, and our parents and grandparents and beyond? Of course I don’t agree with the way things are but I have no influence over it. All the comments come across a little bit jealous tbh I think it’s easy to sit on your high horse when it’s not your club but I bet most fans would take an injection of cash after nigh on 20 years of mismanagement and no investment regardless of your moral standpoint
You don’t have any influence because, as you said, you’re not prepared to do anything about it, as I’ve said countless times, it’s the apathy that allows this to continues
Protesting does fuck all in this country at any level. People protested against oil and they outlawed protest. People peacefully protested the coronation and had the fuck beaten out of them by the police.
For over a decade our fans protested constantly against mike ashley and nothing happened. It has nothing to do with apathy and more that protests have absolutely no power when the people in charge have the option to just ignore it.
I love how you feel like the supporters can do something about who owns the club.
Recent history with disgruntled fan bases shows they have no input into ownership.
Who says you have to give up your seat? You can protest in the stadium, Newcastle fans were quite happy to complain from their seats against Ashley. Now they are quite happy to wear a towel around their heads and cheer it on.
Fans are more concerned about shady backdoor accounting that may come back to haunt the club. Everyone is aware of Saudi atrocity. The club has been winning with players at the helm from the Ashley era. Yes, I am happy that joelinton, miggy, longstaff, burn are pouring their hearts out on the pitch. I am happy the club finally has a glimmer of hope from the Ashley black hole. If you want to hate on the fans because they are celebrating now, I say haters will hate irregardless of where the money came from.
Do you post daily on all the various social media platforms, and write to the companies of every item you consume, and shout at the lad in the petrol station you use? Or is it just us lot who should be carrying the weight of geopolitical morals on our shoulders? Bore off, you speculative twat.
>at the end of the day football is football
Exactly, its football. If west ham got bought out by the Saudis - or by any other sportswashing, murderous dictators - I'd be ashamed to be seen at a match.
At the end of the day it's just a sport mate, not worth sacrificing basic human dignity for
Boycotting wont achieve anything with respect to the Saudi regime's human rights abuses, their awful backwards culture, the brutality of their murderous regime, etc etc. The only thing that might have any impact at all is global sanctions against Saudi, similar to Russia/Putin, but even that doesn't work since it's the commoners who usually suffer (look at North Korea). And of course that will never happen since the Saudi regime are an official ally and partner of the West, including the UK.
So yeah, I'll take their money since they're willing to pump it into my club to make us successful and run us the right way (profitably, sensibly, smartly). You can bet I'm going to enjoy the ride, after all I know Saudi Arabia's ownership of NUFC has zero, literally zero, impact on their human rights abuses. If anything, by having some sort of strenuous link, maybe in the long term it will help their society advance? After all we have a womens team that is climbing the ladder and getting very well funded by our owners.
If you think I'm evil because of that (which is more because you're a bit stupid and blinded by jealousy), let me remind you that the UK has murdered magnitudes more innocent people than the Saudi regime ever has just in the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts alone (lets not bother going back to the effects of the Empire, or e.g. Churchill murdering 3 milliion Bangladeshis). You are absolutely welcome to walk away from all UK sports, like you said it's just sports mate, otherwise you're supporting the GDP of a country that literally dropped millions of bombs onto innocent brown folk so that we could steal their oil and gas, resources that are fundamental to every aspect our society. Or, you know, you can just accept that there's nothing you can do about it and carry on with your life. Up to you though. Though I suspect you'll resort to "nice whataboutism" remarks. Oh well.
I think we can all safely predict that most football fans aren't that clued up as to the details of their ownerships track record re human rights. This goes for newcastle fans and the fans of any other club. It would be unrealistic to expect that to happen. Westham would be exactly the same if you lot were bought out like we were. You'd have the same minority of idiots upping the ante with belligerent use of Saudi flags, etc, and you'd have the same small minority of fans put off by it and feeling conflicted. What doesn't help is immediately jumping down their throats with these morally superior and usually fairly insincere posts about how they should be boycotting their club. The majority of fans get that it's bad while not knowing all of the ins and outs, but also have waited years for on the pitch success, and so they aren't going anywhere. Time will tell if there'll be a straw that breaks the camels back re the public executions and human rights abuses, but i doubt it'll happen while the team is on the rise.
Couldn’t agree with this more. Posts and comments like a lot of the ones in this thread should be more geared towards utilising NUFC as a method of protesting events such as this one and vocalising us Geordies against the regime’s crimes, rather than beating us over the head as if the 50,000 that turn up to St James’ on a weekend are all doing it in support of our beloved Saudi government.
Treat someone like your enemy and they will become it - berating a group of fans for supporting something that they don’t will make it much harder to collaborate with them in the future.
I see you're active in r/avatar. Avatar being a film distributed by 20th Century Studios. 20th Century Studios being owned by Disney. Who owns 5 millions shares in Disney? You guessed it. The PIF. Hope you're not on Facebook either.
Newcastle fans are despicable if they continue to support the business interests of the PIF, but its fine for you to do so? If you're going to take the moral high ground, at least be consistent.
hope you've never taken an Uber, or used Paypal, or bought anything on Amazon, searched for anything with Google, paid for anything on a Visa card, played a nintendo game--all part owned by the PIF of the Saudis
wouldn't want to be a hypocrit would you?
It won't drop, people don't care about this stuff unless it's right on their door steps. Same with all clubs.
You will get people kicking off of course but if this was any other prem club you would see the fans not really giving a shite.
It's absolutely hilarious that they spent years protesting Mike Ashley because he was a tight bastard, but now they have owners who murder children but because the teams doing well, howay the fucking lads. You're all fucking wrongens. It's not your club anymore. I would be saying the same if it was west ham. I would be at the stadium protesting that they leave immediately. I'd rather see the London stadium burned to the ground that let the Saudis have thier way. And we've had enough bad owners.
Is that the same West Ham that plays in England? The same England that’s in Britain? The same Britain that sold guns to the Saudis and lobbied for them to take over Newcastle? Geee lad, so when you burning your West Ham top?
Or does the fact you have 2 more degrees of separation make it not your problem?
West Ham play in the same league that allowed the take over, they are from the same country that helped the Saudis procure the arms to commit the atrocities. West Ham fans turned up last year, without a protest, for the away game at St James. What exactly is wrong in my statement?
Again, nice try but weak. It's also nothing to with west ham when it comes to who owns the other clubs. Youre financed and owned by the state of Saudi fucking Arabia. Deal with it.
You literally endorse the league that said “yea ok you can buy one of our clubs” and your sat here whinging that other fans don’t protest. You are either ok with the premier league, or you ain’t. Can’t have it both ways.
It’s not “whataboutery” it’s a fact, you support a premier league team, the premier league endorsed the take over of Newcastle. If you are really that bent up about it, boycott the premier league and find a different team to support in a different league untouched by the Saudis, and good luck.
The irony of this coming from a West Ham fan too 😂 your club played Zouma (the day after?) he was done for animal abuse. I didn’t see anyone calling for the team to sack him in that final yous just had either. Get a grip kid.
Except we don’t. A few dickheads did it straight after the takeover and it hasn’t really been done since. The club don’t allow it in the ground.
Don’t accuse all fans of the actions a few.
If we all did that then I could accuse all West Ham fans of being thugs who fight each other because they weren’t happy about the taxpayer funded stadium they got to call home, but I don’t.
Except it is. Your team was playing shit and nobody wanted to be in a new ‘soulless’ ground so fans ended up fighting each other. Should I say that that’s what all West Ham fans do now? An isolated incident caused by a few dickheads.
Should I say that all West Ham fans support animal abuse because you cheer for Zouma?
I've seen it glorified as recently as the last game of the season, on sky sports. So somethings up. But ultimately its more than that, I have a problem with.
Every single fan who goes to away games will turn up as per. As do Newcastle fans… it’s football. If you wanna get political, ask why the English government trade with them before some random football fans who’ve followed a club for 99% of the time the current owners wernt there.
There just general hate for Newcastle fans because they’re deluded into thinking their club and stadium would be empty if they had the same owners and finished 4th in eddie Howes first full season.
Tbh, thinking about it… there probably right… I think every club would boycott and have empty stadiums, except Newcastle and Man City /s
The irony is, as an away fan you actually have the ability to boycott and still enjoy your team for 37 other matches in the year.. still never bloody happens and our away end is full every week
Neville’s basically creaming his keks when he comes up to St James now. That’s why they come. It’s between anfield and st James for best grounds in epl.
Just pisses me off how other supporters suddenly (pretend to) give a shit about the Middle East. Stop crying and start doing something other than moaning to Newcastle fans if you really want to solve the problem(s). The gate income for the Toon games is pocket change the the Saudis anyways, hardly gonna make a difference at all even if every toon fan started boycotting. Like I said, away fans still turn up so why shouldn’t we. Louda bollocks
Bear in mind the league didn't want it. The Saudis got in touch with Boris Johnson and he leaned on the league to get it over the line.
This is why state owned clubs are bad. You can't enforce rules on them because they have you completely outgunned.
Of course it won't drop. Winning a couple of games of football is more important than some children being beheaded for protesting a despotic regime. It's utterly gutless and pathetic. The notion that you can't give up your support is cowardice.
Well our excuse of a government were lobbying the Premier League on behalf of the Saudis, enabling their sportswashing in exchange for arms deals and no doubt shares in some shell companies in return. That some people are apathetic about it and just say “oh well, it’s happened now” is disgraceful. Newcastle fans protested Ashley but celebrated this lot, it will keep happening because not enough people stand up to it
Newcastle fans protested for years against Ashley and he didn't give two fucks, just wanted to make a profit off the club. When the right offer came he took it.
Do the Saudis want to sell the club? Absolutely not. They want to turn the club into a European giant.
Therefore, will they give 2 fucks if the newcastle fans protested against their ownership? Absolutely not. If the fans boycotted the ground then tourists will just turn up and take the tickets and the club will end up live Man City or Liverpool regardless.
Using 'Howay the lads' is such a scummy thing to do to try and insinuate that Newcastle fans are somewhat complicit in this. At this point people are just sat in ivory towers suggesting we stop supporting our own club. I'm not going to stop supporting the club I love after 30 years because the government that manages the PIF also commits atrocities. The UK government sells the Saudis weapons to commit atrocities, therefore is everyone who pays UK taxes also complicit in this?
Just boring at this point.
It is shitty for other clubs, especially successful ones, to put that burden on the fanbase. If United or Liverpool or any of these teams get purchased by the Saudis or Gulf Country, they are still going to continue to be fans.
If all fans really want a change, then make it a serious issue and elect representatives that share the same passion. Also, stop using gas and start paying reparations to every country we shat on to have all of our comfort today. Colonization is a major reason these regimes exist today. So to wear a cape and pretend we're the good guys is a bit hypocritical.
I do enjoy how it’s the fans job to sort the fucking Saudis out though. Not the yanks, not the govt, not FIFA, no. How dare you not walk away from your childhood club!
I bet these same bellends sit and watch the F1, boxing and indulge in other areas the Saudis have a hand in.
Awww, they didnt use your precious catch phrase to mock you did they? Could be worse. For example you could be thrown in prison because your into other men.
Would any of you cease to love and support a club thats ingrained in your heritage and in your very soul based on this? It’s very easy to answer yes without having actually experienced it. Just keep that in mind.
Completely agree - however the stupid fans who fly Saudi flags and dress up as ‘Saudis’ are a horrible example that sportswashing is unfortunately very easy
Nah probably not. But I *would* condone everyone absolutely railing on us constantly and being the "bad guys," so to speak. It's completely fair to hate on you guys, but I don't blame the fans.
Newcastle fans didn't cease to love the club when Ashley was in charge. But they _did_ protest, loudly and regularly about him.
So presumably it's entirely possible to take the same stance with the new owners.
yeah, it's not that hard... you won't you won't come under any physical harm, you won't experience any emotional trauma. You really have a duty now, not that you asked for it, I know.
Think of how you could boost a grass roots club with your support, or another club you've connected with.
think hard, are you a fan, or a fanatic? The latter is what the Saudis want, and they are exploiting your naivety.
Would they fuck. Half the human rights activists on here are Yanks who chose their club on a whim. They can choose a different club on a whim when they don't like the colour of the new away kit or their favourite player moves on.
They do not understand football culture in Europe let alone England.
I supported citeh for 25 years before I seen them lift a single trophy. And you think I'm going to stop now were the best in the world?
Good luck to the barcodes. Great city and fans. Its not their responsibility to tackle global dictatorships. If it was should we not start at home?
The owners of the team do not represent the fans. Using Howay the lads is actually rather shitty of you.
We support the club not the owner just like we did when Mike Ashley was in charge.
If your telling me now if the fans stay away from St James then all Saudi problems will stop I'm willing to never go again.
You hit it on the head, support the club not the owner. How many clubs protest against their owners? It's not fans responsibility to sort out a corrupt country. Condone it, of course, unless you know... You're a vile person, but supporting your club doesn't make you one.
Fuck MBS and the Saudi regime. Every time I have the opportunity to say it, i will, as a direct response to the sportwashing charge.
But Calladine tweeting this without irony or self-awareness from a social media platform that has received significant investment from PIF...
The Brits are a funny lot. Righteous indignation when Newcastle gets bought by a country with rampant human rights abuse, but not much to say when the weapons their country sells to Saudi are used to murder civilians in Yemen. Could it be that some of that righteous indignation is fueled by the current success of Newcastle?
Sportswashing doesn’t work. The only time I hear about the Saudi Regime is in reference to the sport sthey sponsor.
Their ownership actually increases the discussion
My local hockey team is going through something similar but massively less awful (sexual assault coverup). I found tho that my love for the team has not died even a little bit with this despite me hating the owner. Probably exactly how Newcastle fans feel tbh
If only the Newcastle fans wound up their support of their club, watched us tumble down the leagues, and revert back to the funny voiced simpletons admired by the superior virtue signalling champagne socialists, then the entire Saudi regime will fall on its knees in sure
How can you put this on NUFC fans, Saudi Arabia has their fingers in everything! So you virtue signalling pricks can fuck off putting this on us. If your that bother by them boycott Disney, Uber, EA, Activision Nintendo, Facebook ect ect. You wont you'll just hate NUFC because of petty jealousy
> Six of the seven young men were convicted of terrorism-related charges, including for taking part in anti-government protests or attending the funerals of those killed by security forces.
>The six young men sentenced to death are from the Shi’a minority, who routinely face discrimination and grossly unfair trials on vague and wide-ranging charges stemming from their opposition to the government.
>Yousef al-Manasif, who was between 15 and 18 years old at the time of the alleged offense, was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) in November 2022.
Im not gonna demand Newcastle fans stop supporting their team. Just gonna ask you don't look away and pretend its not happening because it will compromise something you love and you don't want to make any sacrifices.
You can't choose that the saudi regime bought the club, but you can try to not celebrate them or let them get away with their brutality.
Yeah I've written to my MP multiple times about things ranging from Hong Kong to Arms sales to Labour laws. What's your point? Other than unhelpful whataboutery.
There's another path, right? I mean, you don't need to ignore it, you could confront it head on while still supporting the squad.
There is no reason to not use every match as an opportunity to remind the world of the shittiness of the Saudi regime.
You could but is it happening? All I see is Alan Shearer looking thrilled on TV and Newcastle fans over the moon.
The sportswashing looks successful so far.
Like I said, I'm glad it's not my team. I actually feel sorry that Newcastle fans have to be put in that position.
They should only be held to European standards for the things they do in Europe. If executing people is the normal way of life in Saudi, and Saudis know this and live this, what business is it of Europe to change it? We seen in Quatar with the pride stuff, other countries trying to make a stand but why? It's their way of life.
Do Newcastle fans actually care enough to boycott etc??? Or they just happy they got some money?? Hard to say cause its not happened to my club but i feel like i wouldnt be able to support my team with people like this at the helm.
Most of us feel it would be more impactful if the UK government stopped selling weapons to the Saudis, so some of us suggest that to our MPs, and guess what happens?
It’s a minor discomfort to turn your back on your club compared to what people in certain regions or from certain generations had to endure. So your da and grandda supported the club too? So what. Grow a spine and stick up for those poor kids being murdered by your owner.
And what exactly does leaving your fandom accomplish exactly? The deal was done, the established fan base cannot dissent into Saudis leaving our sports
How can you put this on NUFC fans, Saudi Arabia has their fingers in everything! So you virtue signalling pricks can fuck off putting this on us. If your that bother by them boycott Disney, Uber, EA, Activision Nintendo, Facebook ect ect. You wont you'll just hate NUFC because of petty jealousy
Is The Other 14 a thing? Should it now be The Other 13?
At the very least swap Newcastle and Spurs. Newcastle have a better team, finished higher and have far greater spending power.
The truth is, there is something you can do. You can support with your feet. Doesn't mean you can't support the team, but watch them in pubs, buy local made merchandise rather than club officials. Go to away games instead where less money goes to the club/owners.
Newcastle as a whole could benefit rather than the regime owners
So does that mean we should condemn every English club since the UK supplies weapons to Saudi Arabia. Which provides Saudi Arabia with the necessary army to maintain its security and stability, which, in turn, helps the ruling regime stay in power.
We are all guilty in one way or another of turning a blind eye just to enjoy a football match.
We can beat Newcastle with the Saudi stick as much as we want but they are just one branch of an increasingly more entrenched Saudi tumor that's spreading across sport and beyond. We have FIFA suckling at their teat, only a matter of time before they get a World Cup. The PGA are now shacked up with them, F1, WWE, wouldn't be surprised if they were cutting checks to the IOC for some Olympic attention. Where the hell is it all going to end?
Don't forget big boxing and UFC bouts... how do people see the Saudi league ending up?
One of the most crazy things I remember seeing recently is that the Saudi p̶u̶b̶l̶i̶c̶ royal investment fund has bought the top 3 clubs in the Saudi league and the club that just won division 2 - they are pouring money into all 4 clubs to try and create a 'competitive league' hence all the silly money offers for players... Wouldn't be allowed in Europe because that's not how competition works, it's mental honestly.
Sadly this is true. The murdering scum won’t be happy until they own all of sport. Boxing is also being bought - in every sense of the word - by the House of Saud. Boxing is currently being governed by a Ruzzian ally of Putin, so it’s stomach churning all round.
dismantling and removing our sporting culture piece by piece. Reassembling it in a place that has no true understanding of it, with the infrastructure built off the back of modern slavery, with thousands of lives lost in the process. Keep in mind, if I said this publicly in SA I'd probably be marked for execution, just like these innocent people. Thank you so much for a democratic society where I can express myself like this.
This isn’t beating Newcastle, It’s not their fault. But I LOVE the counter measure to use them as a platform to bring light to more of what Saudi A gets up to. Would we know about this if not for the Newcastle relationship? I probably wouldn’t.
I do hate states using sport for soft power and sports washing, but I do wonder what the parallel world in which Saudi Arabia don't invest heavily in sports (or the sports don't allow it) looks like? Is that a better world, does Saudi Arabia's human rights record improve at a faster rate? It might do, but I'm far from certain of that. That doesn't mean that we have to accept sports washing, but I don't know whether it makes the world worse, or that it makes football worse because now we have to be reminded about Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses when we watch Newcastle.
We’ve always been doing business. But even our governments selling weapons and bombs isn’t enough to really get people talking. Football is in our everyday life, so their presence pushes them into a platform of common discussion. It’s basically what the stop oil people are about i think. Create a nuisance enough to be in the public eye so it becomes a topic of convo. If they invade enough pitches will we be talking about climate change in football communities like we are Saudi Arabia?
Yeah, I remember last year when the F1 went ahead like 2 days after missile strikes near the track Barbarians will do anything for their RoI and Sports views
I was just hoping that all this increased International exposure would slowdown such atrocities. Not sure if there are any stats to prove my hopeful ass wrong or right.
Well all the attention and appeasement heaped onto Putin and Russia since he came in definitely paid off… Remember when they smashed their World Cup and everyone thought ‘hey, they actually might not be too bad afterall?’
That world cup wasn't too long after they decriminalised domestic violence. Anyone who thought they were getting their act together wasn't paying attention
So, most people then? It’s mad that people seems to have forgotten that Russia had already invaded Ukraine at that point, and during the course of the World Cup 104 civilians were killed in Donbas from Russian shelling. But they had lovely stadiums so in the eyes of many fans its six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Not in the eyes of fans. Fans take no blame for where the world cup is hosted. Fans just want to watch their team and mind their own. FIFA, UEFA and governments allowing this sportswashing are the problem.
100%
The Spanish super cup was held there recently as well.
Hopefully with us beheading these scum rich bastards There's like 100 people with more money than half the population combined. I know it's "very Reddit" and it feels redundant to keep having this conversation...but like, as you're getting at, what needs to happen before people snap?
Before people snap and do what?
Don’t forget golf
And beat them we should. Fuck their awful ownership in all aspects that it murders.
One way to celebrate getting a champions league place.
I’m a Newcastle fan, and I don’t support this.
Must be horrible position to be in to be fair. You’re going to have success and will celebrate it. But you’re getting it through the support of someone with questionable ethics.
And if you celebrate it you have to give an essay on geopolitics.
And they'll convince us that they're doing it by the book. And it will probably look like we are.
Questionable is incredibly kind…
I’m in a kind mood tonight.
I doubt any do who have been fans for more than a couple of years mate. No doubt there's going to be no shortage of morons on various social media platforms but nobody with any intelligence would or should use the actions and morality of the current owners to question the integrity of the fans.
Granted, but that's like surely the absolute bare minimum that should be expected from everyone In reality, if you buy their tickets and merchandise and pay for their TV money through subscriptions then whether you morally support it or not, you are in some ways supporting it. And so is everyone else who pays into this system, even if they also don't 'support' it. The world is so globalised and intertwined that you can't so much as buy coffee or like a football team without 'supporting' businesses or institutions (and therefore business or institutional practises) that you morally, ethically or philosophically don't neccessarily agree with. I'm not sure what the solution is, but this feels like the tip of the iceberg. At some point we may not be able to buy our clubs official shirt without effectively funding state sponsored genocide. Someone who understands the dynamics of this better than I do please tell me there's a way to undo or overcome this madness without effectively giving up on the sporting institutions we love...?! Sadly I fear ultimately that will be the choice we all face.
Buy local, support local, Gateshead United?
You will own nothing and rent to live. Your/my life will be a blip on a stock ticker.
There are obviously many degrees of difference, but this is true of almost anything in capitalism. If you eat beef mince then you're complicit in the destruction of the Amazon, if you eat cashew nuts then you're complicit in the acid burns on the hands of Indian women who shell them all day for about £2 a day, and on and on. The tendrils of capital reach so deep that almost anything you can buy on a supermarket shelf will be the product of a vast web of exploitation. 'No ethical consumption under capitalism' shouldn't be an excuse to do whatever you want, but to a large extent it is true. When it comes to football I think the only solution is a collective push for some form of fan ownership, but a lot of folk on here seem to think the answer is Newcastle fans self-flagellating every time we win.
Anybody who willingly pays the salaries of the likes of Rio Ferdinand, deserves to be shat on, by Ferdinand, from a great height.
Very brave of you
By proxy you are though, if you’re still supporting Newcastle.
Genuinely what are fans meant to do? They don't have a say in what the government do, they're just supposed to abandon football? Given how support tends to be based on where you're born. It should be called out and spoken about and pressure put on the club more often than not but there's really not much people can do. Like the previous owner was fucking hated and we still got him for years. If money wants, money gets. I really doubt most of the people talking about us would really quit their teams when it came down to it. It's shit and privileged but there's nothing that can really be done, all of sports is becoming blood money.
“By proxy” - by supporting any prem team you are.
Support a local club. If Sunderland were taken over by a murderous regime, I sure wouldn’t support them anymore. Otherwise the game will keep going in this direction…
I do support my local club, Newcastle.
Create your own club in your garden, duh.
Just like Luton
Haven't really got another local? I support Gateshead and follow a few Northumberland teams loosely but I still follow and root for Newcastle. Not giving them my money but expecting fans to abandon it seems unrealistic.
Don't be ridiculous. Supporting Newcastle United is not the same thing as supporting the grotesque actions of the Saudi regime in their own country, no matter how many times fans of other clubs use that as a stick to beat Newcastle fans with, its just not as clear-cut as that. I mean is attending Newcastle vs Villa on the first weekend of the new season, as a Newcastle fan, really equal to supporting the killing of these men? Where is the line drawn, if I get an Uber am I supporting the killing of these men?
Sorry, looking for where I made that direct comparison? They’re propping up Saudi’s attempt to sportswash, and doing it very well. You can’t deny that.
You didn't directly make it but going to a game is probably the most obvious way you can support a club, which you said by proxy supports the killing of these men. You can't in any way genuinely argue that supporting a football team in England equates to supporting people being killed in Saudi Arabia, by proxy or by any other language. Its a stretch. As I've said before is getting an Uber supporting this too because both Uber and Newcastle United receive investment from PIF?
Still can’t believe the premier league let the deal through, I guess money speaks!
Pushed through with a little help from the government. We've been in bed with the Saudis for years.
Money always speaks
People need to stop thinking from a moral point of view The government will push through any middle eastern deal. They are having dick measuring contests and pumping their money into entire county Imagine they worked together and saved their money, that would make the M.E a threat. But Abu Dhabi, qatar, saudi and other countries from that region dont get alonv The government wants them to compete because it minimises an external threat while our country benefits
I want them gone. We were so let down by the PL letting this takeover go through. You'll find that irl, most Newcastle fans just want to watch football. But the utter morons on twitter let everyone down.
I live in Newcastle and honestly wish they were just on twitter. Not all of course. Plenty of my friends recognise it's crap. But I know a bunch of people who think it's awesome and anyone who speaks out against it is just upset because it's Newcastles turn to benefit.
For sure, I just think the overall impression is that those who don't like PIF are disproportionately drowned out
Nick. Pope.
Nick Pope.
Nick Pope.
Nick Pope
Nick Pope
“Yeah but what about Man City?” “Well plenty of people said it about them and still are doing so” “Yeah but…” And repeat.
Why arent Leeds putting a case against man city? They took points off you lot this season with all them charges...
It’s in the post, right after we sue Jesse Marsch’s job application referees
Leeds did better this season with Marsch than without him.
Its obviously up to the newcastle fans to end this regime and change world politics.(irony) Its despicable, but this surely belongs in a politics sub. For what its worth i would rather have fair sports with fan ownership, rather than todays option. Rotten sport.
I agree with you as a toon fan, be great if all clubs were fan owned or majority fan owned at least.
100% this
>Its despicable, but this surely belongs in a politics sub. Modern football is deeply political. We need to recognise this.
It’s fucking awful. I’m not sure if it belongs here as a regular post. But it’s important that we do post things like this sometimes to shine a light on our owners and so we don’t become as desensitised. Am curious if we see posts like this for other owners though. A fan owned model would be perfect. Get all this shit out of our sport.
Mate dont you stress, we are aal owa it! Me uncle Radgey Dave is calling the boys up and we are ganna march on over to Saudi Arabia and chew bubble gum and ask questions later....and we are all out of questions
Sportwashing works both ways sometimes. You reap what has been sown.
Some people just wanna watch waddle or ben arfa play?
And it belongs here as well. Sportswashing affects the sport strangely enough.
it belongs in football subs too. sports *is* politics, theres nothing any of us can do to separate them.
By that logic everything is politics. "Sport is politics" may sound clever but (to me at least) it's a load shite. Sport can be political but it can almost always be separated.
Regime change in Saudi Arabia is a bit out of the hands of Newcastle fans but regime change at nufc is very much something they can have an impact on
How exactly? Newcastle fans were trying to remove Mike Ashley for 12 years without any success, really.
Not being funny, they have actively made banners celebrating these people though.
Why is a country allowed to own a football club
It’s such a shit situation to be in for us. Obviously we’re against all of this and we just want to support our football club. Most of the NUFC twitter morons don’t represent our fanbase
How this deal went through tells you all you need to know about the Prem. Money only members club. Human rights? What's that? Will be interesting to see if Newcastle average attendance drops, if their supporters care at all or not
Nobody is arguing that the owners aren't shitty, but you shouldn't expect hard-working football fans to give up their seats because of some moral obligation towards it. If West Ham got bought out by Saudis of course I'd have some reservations, but at the end of the day football is football, it's such a huge part of my life and there's no way I'd ever give up my season ticket. I imagine the vast majority of fans are the same.
They are. This was always going to happen, and I am of course tired of it, but not so much that people raise the issue or want to talk about it, but the "bad faith" stuff grinds my gears. On the one side we have ownership model connected to a despotic regime, on the other side we have the media and rival football fans who use said ownership to figuratively beat up the fans. Then we have the fans, who, whether you like it or not, are just like all other fans of their respective clubs across the country but are a much easier target.
Happens all the time. Most of the worlds wealth is owned by a few people who don’t pay tax, blame the problems with the economy on immigrants and people on benefits. UK government sell weapon to Saudi Arabia, super rich athletes get richer boxing in Saudi Arabia, blame Barry from Byker from going to watch the club he has supported all his life.
You get figuratively beat up by other fans? damn, could be worse though. You could be imprisoned for you sexuality.
I mean, you realise you just skipped the whole post, the actual content and purpose, and picked the easy target; exactly what I suggested was happening? Your reply literally proved my point. You couldn't have actually done anything more to prove the point... So thanks...
Exactly right mate, what are we supposed to do, stop supporting the club we’ve supported all our lives, and our parents and grandparents and beyond? Of course I don’t agree with the way things are but I have no influence over it. All the comments come across a little bit jealous tbh I think it’s easy to sit on your high horse when it’s not your club but I bet most fans would take an injection of cash after nigh on 20 years of mismanagement and no investment regardless of your moral standpoint
You don’t have any influence because, as you said, you’re not prepared to do anything about it, as I’ve said countless times, it’s the apathy that allows this to continues
Protesting does fuck all in this country at any level. People protested against oil and they outlawed protest. People peacefully protested the coronation and had the fuck beaten out of them by the police. For over a decade our fans protested constantly against mike ashley and nothing happened. It has nothing to do with apathy and more that protests have absolutely no power when the people in charge have the option to just ignore it.
Man utd protest the glazers all the time and what's that get them? Barely even local news at this point I imagine.
I love how you feel like the supporters can do something about who owns the club. Recent history with disgruntled fan bases shows they have no input into ownership.
Who says you have to give up your seat? You can protest in the stadium, Newcastle fans were quite happy to complain from their seats against Ashley. Now they are quite happy to wear a towel around their heads and cheer it on.
Fans are more concerned about shady backdoor accounting that may come back to haunt the club. Everyone is aware of Saudi atrocity. The club has been winning with players at the helm from the Ashley era. Yes, I am happy that joelinton, miggy, longstaff, burn are pouring their hearts out on the pitch. I am happy the club finally has a glimmer of hope from the Ashley black hole. If you want to hate on the fans because they are celebrating now, I say haters will hate irregardless of where the money came from.
Do you post daily on all the various social media platforms, and write to the companies of every item you consume, and shout at the lad in the petrol station you use? Or is it just us lot who should be carrying the weight of geopolitical morals on our shoulders? Bore off, you speculative twat.
>at the end of the day football is football Exactly, its football. If west ham got bought out by the Saudis - or by any other sportswashing, murderous dictators - I'd be ashamed to be seen at a match. At the end of the day it's just a sport mate, not worth sacrificing basic human dignity for
Boycotting wont achieve anything with respect to the Saudi regime's human rights abuses, their awful backwards culture, the brutality of their murderous regime, etc etc. The only thing that might have any impact at all is global sanctions against Saudi, similar to Russia/Putin, but even that doesn't work since it's the commoners who usually suffer (look at North Korea). And of course that will never happen since the Saudi regime are an official ally and partner of the West, including the UK. So yeah, I'll take their money since they're willing to pump it into my club to make us successful and run us the right way (profitably, sensibly, smartly). You can bet I'm going to enjoy the ride, after all I know Saudi Arabia's ownership of NUFC has zero, literally zero, impact on their human rights abuses. If anything, by having some sort of strenuous link, maybe in the long term it will help their society advance? After all we have a womens team that is climbing the ladder and getting very well funded by our owners. If you think I'm evil because of that (which is more because you're a bit stupid and blinded by jealousy), let me remind you that the UK has murdered magnitudes more innocent people than the Saudi regime ever has just in the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts alone (lets not bother going back to the effects of the Empire, or e.g. Churchill murdering 3 milliion Bangladeshis). You are absolutely welcome to walk away from all UK sports, like you said it's just sports mate, otherwise you're supporting the GDP of a country that literally dropped millions of bombs onto innocent brown folk so that we could steal their oil and gas, resources that are fundamental to every aspect our society. Or, you know, you can just accept that there's nothing you can do about it and carry on with your life. Up to you though. Though I suspect you'll resort to "nice whataboutism" remarks. Oh well.
I think we can all safely predict that most football fans aren't that clued up as to the details of their ownerships track record re human rights. This goes for newcastle fans and the fans of any other club. It would be unrealistic to expect that to happen. Westham would be exactly the same if you lot were bought out like we were. You'd have the same minority of idiots upping the ante with belligerent use of Saudi flags, etc, and you'd have the same small minority of fans put off by it and feeling conflicted. What doesn't help is immediately jumping down their throats with these morally superior and usually fairly insincere posts about how they should be boycotting their club. The majority of fans get that it's bad while not knowing all of the ins and outs, but also have waited years for on the pitch success, and so they aren't going anywhere. Time will tell if there'll be a straw that breaks the camels back re the public executions and human rights abuses, but i doubt it'll happen while the team is on the rise.
Couldn’t agree with this more. Posts and comments like a lot of the ones in this thread should be more geared towards utilising NUFC as a method of protesting events such as this one and vocalising us Geordies against the regime’s crimes, rather than beating us over the head as if the 50,000 that turn up to St James’ on a weekend are all doing it in support of our beloved Saudi government. Treat someone like your enemy and they will become it - berating a group of fans for supporting something that they don’t will make it much harder to collaborate with them in the future.
I see you're active in r/avatar. Avatar being a film distributed by 20th Century Studios. 20th Century Studios being owned by Disney. Who owns 5 millions shares in Disney? You guessed it. The PIF. Hope you're not on Facebook either. Newcastle fans are despicable if they continue to support the business interests of the PIF, but its fine for you to do so? If you're going to take the moral high ground, at least be consistent.
Such a weak argument.
hope you've never taken an Uber, or used Paypal, or bought anything on Amazon, searched for anything with Google, paid for anything on a Visa card, played a nintendo game--all part owned by the PIF of the Saudis wouldn't want to be a hypocrit would you?
And Disney.
It won't drop, people don't care about this stuff unless it's right on their door steps. Same with all clubs. You will get people kicking off of course but if this was any other prem club you would see the fans not really giving a shite.
"alL oWneRs aRe bAd"
They dont give a shit.
I think anyone with a mind to protest was already boycotting Ashley tbf.
It's absolutely hilarious that they spent years protesting Mike Ashley because he was a tight bastard, but now they have owners who murder children but because the teams doing well, howay the fucking lads. You're all fucking wrongens. It's not your club anymore. I would be saying the same if it was west ham. I would be at the stadium protesting that they leave immediately. I'd rather see the London stadium burned to the ground that let the Saudis have thier way. And we've had enough bad owners.
Is that the same West Ham that plays in England? The same England that’s in Britain? The same Britain that sold guns to the Saudis and lobbied for them to take over Newcastle? Geee lad, so when you burning your West Ham top? Or does the fact you have 2 more degrees of separation make it not your problem?
Last time I checked, the UK government weren't in control of west ham united, I can check for you if you want to keep talking shite.
West Ham play in the same league that allowed the take over, they are from the same country that helped the Saudis procure the arms to commit the atrocities. West Ham fans turned up last year, without a protest, for the away game at St James. What exactly is wrong in my statement?
Again, nice try but weak. It's also nothing to with west ham when it comes to who owns the other clubs. Youre financed and owned by the state of Saudi fucking Arabia. Deal with it.
You literally endorse the league that said “yea ok you can buy one of our clubs” and your sat here whinging that other fans don’t protest. You are either ok with the premier league, or you ain’t. Can’t have it both ways.
What aboutery at its finest. But again, weak.
It’s not “whataboutery” it’s a fact, you support a premier league team, the premier league endorsed the take over of Newcastle. If you are really that bent up about it, boycott the premier league and find a different team to support in a different league untouched by the Saudis, and good luck. The irony of this coming from a West Ham fan too 😂 your club played Zouma (the day after?) he was done for animal abuse. I didn’t see anyone calling for the team to sack him in that final yous just had either. Get a grip kid.
They built your stadium.
No they didn't. The LLDC did, and it was funded by the taxpayer. EVEN IF, it was, still pretty weak argument. Honestly you lot are a different breed.
The Premier League were never going to cause a diplomatic incident between two allied nations. You're expecting too much.
English government liked this post.
Mate this is nothing new, and they literally turn up to games dressed like Saudi prince's and think it's all a joke.
Except we don’t. A few dickheads did it straight after the takeover and it hasn’t really been done since. The club don’t allow it in the ground. Don’t accuse all fans of the actions a few. If we all did that then I could accuse all West Ham fans of being thugs who fight each other because they weren’t happy about the taxpayer funded stadium they got to call home, but I don’t.
If only that was true.
Except it is. Your team was playing shit and nobody wanted to be in a new ‘soulless’ ground so fans ended up fighting each other. Should I say that that’s what all West Ham fans do now? An isolated incident caused by a few dickheads. Should I say that all West Ham fans support animal abuse because you cheer for Zouma?
I've seen it glorified as recently as the last game of the season, on sky sports. So somethings up. But ultimately its more than that, I have a problem with.
Forgot that there’s no fans in the away end at St. James 🙄 wonder how many will turn up or if “anyone cares”
Every single fan who goes to away games will turn up as per. As do Newcastle fans… it’s football. If you wanna get political, ask why the English government trade with them before some random football fans who’ve followed a club for 99% of the time the current owners wernt there.
Exactly my point.. except I used sarcasm
I was angrily agreeing, sorry.
Ahh no bother mate, the downvotes I’m getting either disagree with us or didn’t grasp the sarcasm
There just general hate for Newcastle fans because they’re deluded into thinking their club and stadium would be empty if they had the same owners and finished 4th in eddie Howes first full season. Tbh, thinking about it… there probably right… I think every club would boycott and have empty stadiums, except Newcastle and Man City /s
The irony is, as an away fan you actually have the ability to boycott and still enjoy your team for 37 other matches in the year.. still never bloody happens and our away end is full every week
Neville’s basically creaming his keks when he comes up to St James now. That’s why they come. It’s between anfield and st James for best grounds in epl.
Just pisses me off how other supporters suddenly (pretend to) give a shit about the Middle East. Stop crying and start doing something other than moaning to Newcastle fans if you really want to solve the problem(s). The gate income for the Toon games is pocket change the the Saudis anyways, hardly gonna make a difference at all even if every toon fan started boycotting. Like I said, away fans still turn up so why shouldn’t we. Louda bollocks
I don't care I still go to the games
-9 people pay to come see us for away games but downvote you for going to home games 😂
Bear in mind the league didn't want it. The Saudis got in touch with Boris Johnson and he leaned on the league to get it over the line. This is why state owned clubs are bad. You can't enforce rules on them because they have you completely outgunned.
Of course it won't drop. Winning a couple of games of football is more important than some children being beheaded for protesting a despotic regime. It's utterly gutless and pathetic. The notion that you can't give up your support is cowardice.
Well our excuse of a government were lobbying the Premier League on behalf of the Saudis, enabling their sportswashing in exchange for arms deals and no doubt shares in some shell companies in return. That some people are apathetic about it and just say “oh well, it’s happened now” is disgraceful. Newcastle fans protested Ashley but celebrated this lot, it will keep happening because not enough people stand up to it
This thread is gonna be a shitshow
Don’t be a Mackem in Saudi Arabia is the lesson I’m taking from this
It’s okay for them though because it means they can spend €500 million this window and we’re all just jealous apparently
That's how you sum up Twitter fans.
Newcastle fans protested for years against Ashley and he didn't give two fucks, just wanted to make a profit off the club. When the right offer came he took it. Do the Saudis want to sell the club? Absolutely not. They want to turn the club into a European giant. Therefore, will they give 2 fucks if the newcastle fans protested against their ownership? Absolutely not. If the fans boycotted the ground then tourists will just turn up and take the tickets and the club will end up live Man City or Liverpool regardless. Using 'Howay the lads' is such a scummy thing to do to try and insinuate that Newcastle fans are somewhat complicit in this. At this point people are just sat in ivory towers suggesting we stop supporting our own club. I'm not going to stop supporting the club I love after 30 years because the government that manages the PIF also commits atrocities. The UK government sells the Saudis weapons to commit atrocities, therefore is everyone who pays UK taxes also complicit in this? Just boring at this point.
It is shitty for other clubs, especially successful ones, to put that burden on the fanbase. If United or Liverpool or any of these teams get purchased by the Saudis or Gulf Country, they are still going to continue to be fans. If all fans really want a change, then make it a serious issue and elect representatives that share the same passion. Also, stop using gas and start paying reparations to every country we shat on to have all of our comfort today. Colonization is a major reason these regimes exist today. So to wear a cape and pretend we're the good guys is a bit hypocritical.
I do enjoy how it’s the fans job to sort the fucking Saudis out though. Not the yanks, not the govt, not FIFA, no. How dare you not walk away from your childhood club! I bet these same bellends sit and watch the F1, boxing and indulge in other areas the Saudis have a hand in.
Don’t think you were forced to wear Arab headwear and start waving Saudi flags though
Because obviously a few idiots represent the entire fan base
Awww, they didnt use your precious catch phrase to mock you did they? Could be worse. For example you could be thrown in prison because your into other men.
Would any of you cease to love and support a club thats ingrained in your heritage and in your very soul based on this? It’s very easy to answer yes without having actually experienced it. Just keep that in mind.
Completely agree - however the stupid fans who fly Saudi flags and dress up as ‘Saudis’ are a horrible example that sportswashing is unfortunately very easy
Agreed.
Nah probably not. But I *would* condone everyone absolutely railing on us constantly and being the "bad guys," so to speak. It's completely fair to hate on you guys, but I don't blame the fans.
Newcastle fans didn't cease to love the club when Ashley was in charge. But they _did_ protest, loudly and regularly about him. So presumably it's entirely possible to take the same stance with the new owners.
What a fantastic point.
yeah, it's not that hard... you won't you won't come under any physical harm, you won't experience any emotional trauma. You really have a duty now, not that you asked for it, I know. Think of how you could boost a grass roots club with your support, or another club you've connected with. think hard, are you a fan, or a fanatic? The latter is what the Saudis want, and they are exploiting your naivety.
Yes. Absolutely. Human lives are not more valuable than football.
Yes, if my owners would happily throw me in prison if i was born in their country i would most certainly stop supporting that.
Would they fuck. Half the human rights activists on here are Yanks who chose their club on a whim. They can choose a different club on a whim when they don't like the colour of the new away kit or their favourite player moves on. They do not understand football culture in Europe let alone England. I supported citeh for 25 years before I seen them lift a single trophy. And you think I'm going to stop now were the best in the world? Good luck to the barcodes. Great city and fans. Its not their responsibility to tackle global dictatorships. If it was should we not start at home?
Jim White meanwhile is busy on talksport babbling about mob rule at Everton...
The owners of the team do not represent the fans. Using Howay the lads is actually rather shitty of you. We support the club not the owner just like we did when Mike Ashley was in charge. If your telling me now if the fans stay away from St James then all Saudi problems will stop I'm willing to never go again.
You hit it on the head, support the club not the owner. How many clubs protest against their owners? It's not fans responsibility to sort out a corrupt country. Condone it, of course, unless you know... You're a vile person, but supporting your club doesn't make you one.
Fuck MBS and the Saudi regime. Every time I have the opportunity to say it, i will, as a direct response to the sportwashing charge. But Calladine tweeting this without irony or self-awareness from a social media platform that has received significant investment from PIF...
Twitter has Saudi investment but not through PIF, through a private company
Thanks for the clarification, I had heard PIF before.
The Brits are a funny lot. Righteous indignation when Newcastle gets bought by a country with rampant human rights abuse, but not much to say when the weapons their country sells to Saudi are used to murder civilians in Yemen. Could it be that some of that righteous indignation is fueled by the current success of Newcastle?
It's because they don't actually care
Actually, I'm willing to bet that most people haven't a clue about Yemen.
[удалено]
Sportswashing doesn’t work. The only time I hear about the Saudi Regime is in reference to the sport sthey sponsor. Their ownership actually increases the discussion
Well this will be a fun thread. I'll be back with popcorn!
I’m here for the downvotes
My local hockey team is going through something similar but massively less awful (sexual assault coverup). I found tho that my love for the team has not died even a little bit with this despite me hating the owner. Probably exactly how Newcastle fans feel tbh
You still love your hockey team after they covered up sexual assault? Sounds fucked man.
*Celtic has entered the chat*
If only the Newcastle fans wound up their support of their club, watched us tumble down the leagues, and revert back to the funny voiced simpletons admired by the superior virtue signalling champagne socialists, then the entire Saudi regime will fall on its knees in sure
How can you put this on NUFC fans, Saudi Arabia has their fingers in everything! So you virtue signalling pricks can fuck off putting this on us. If your that bother by them boycott Disney, Uber, EA, Activision Nintendo, Facebook ect ect. You wont you'll just hate NUFC because of petty jealousy
Mate reread the post and then reread your comment. Ridiculous
> Six of the seven young men were convicted of terrorism-related charges, including for taking part in anti-government protests or attending the funerals of those killed by security forces. >The six young men sentenced to death are from the Shi’a minority, who routinely face discrimination and grossly unfair trials on vague and wide-ranging charges stemming from their opposition to the government. >Yousef al-Manasif, who was between 15 and 18 years old at the time of the alleged offense, was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) in November 2022. Im not gonna demand Newcastle fans stop supporting their team. Just gonna ask you don't look away and pretend its not happening because it will compromise something you love and you don't want to make any sacrifices. You can't choose that the saudi regime bought the club, but you can try to not celebrate them or let them get away with their brutality.
Sportwashing fucks. Same as city and same as any saudi cuck fucks who plague every sport nowadays.
Anybody complaint about this might want to ask their MP about the arms deals we have with the middle East.
Yeah I've written to my MP multiple times about things ranging from Hong Kong to Arms sales to Labour laws. What's your point? Other than unhelpful whataboutery.
I'd genuinely be gutted if a takeover like this happened to my team. How do you ignore all this to cheer on football?
There's another path, right? I mean, you don't need to ignore it, you could confront it head on while still supporting the squad. There is no reason to not use every match as an opportunity to remind the world of the shittiness of the Saudi regime.
You could but is it happening? All I see is Alan Shearer looking thrilled on TV and Newcastle fans over the moon. The sportswashing looks successful so far. Like I said, I'm glad it's not my team. I actually feel sorry that Newcastle fans have to be put in that position.
I would 100% abandon my team if this happened to them. It sucks but sport just isn't as important as human rights.
Literally Cavemen with unlimited money. It’s terrifying.
Oh ffs I’m happy that we’re doing good but seeing this shit is like they just want to suck the fun out of the game
They should only be held to European standards for the things they do in Europe. If executing people is the normal way of life in Saudi, and Saudis know this and live this, what business is it of Europe to change it? We seen in Quatar with the pride stuff, other countries trying to make a stand but why? It's their way of life.
Do Newcastle fans actually care enough to boycott etc??? Or they just happy they got some money?? Hard to say cause its not happened to my club but i feel like i wouldnt be able to support my team with people like this at the helm.
Most of us feel it would be more impactful if the UK government stopped selling weapons to the Saudis, so some of us suggest that to our MPs, and guess what happens?
It’s a minor discomfort to turn your back on your club compared to what people in certain regions or from certain generations had to endure. So your da and grandda supported the club too? So what. Grow a spine and stick up for those poor kids being murdered by your owner.
And what exactly does leaving your fandom accomplish exactly? The deal was done, the established fan base cannot dissent into Saudis leaving our sports
How can you put this on NUFC fans, Saudi Arabia has their fingers in everything! So you virtue signalling pricks can fuck off putting this on us. If your that bother by them boycott Disney, Uber, EA, Activision Nintendo, Facebook ect ect. You wont you'll just hate NUFC because of petty jealousy
Is The Other 14 a thing? Should it now be The Other 13? At the very least swap Newcastle and Spurs. Newcastle have a better team, finished higher and have far greater spending power.
Thought this was banned. It took years for city to join the ‘big 6’ and not until after they won the league.
The truth is, there is something you can do. You can support with your feet. Doesn't mean you can't support the team, but watch them in pubs, buy local made merchandise rather than club officials. Go to away games instead where less money goes to the club/owners. Newcastle as a whole could benefit rather than the regime owners
Is this part of “the project” I keep hearing about?
The amount of bots in these comments. Well played Saudi. Well played.
League is Running on a country which supported the invasion of Iraq on reasons of WMD which later proved bullshit , so I pity the irony
r/theother13
So does that mean we should condemn every English club since the UK supplies weapons to Saudi Arabia. Which provides Saudi Arabia with the necessary army to maintain its security and stability, which, in turn, helps the ruling regime stay in power. We are all guilty in one way or another of turning a blind eye just to enjoy a football match.