Your owning despot is pleased
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/mar/17/newcastles-carabao-cup-win-part-feelgood-story-part-pr-triumph-for-dictator-state-ambition
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/mar/17/newcastles-carabao-cup-win-part-feelgood-story-part-pr-triumph-for-dictator-state-ambition
Comments
The truth is that the rot set in when the Premier League sold the soul of football to the highest bidder .....
We could have a long & fruitless debate about just how clean any of the money sloshing around the Premier League is (gambling firms ruin countless lives, the Abu Dhabi regime is no upholder of human rights, Sullivans smut .....)
So lament blood money in the league by all means, but at least don't pick on us alone.
I mean, thats not sportswashing, that is someone happily ignoring what they actually do because they have given money to their football team
I'm not hypocritical, so I wouldn't stop going if the Saudis bank rolled mine but I wouldn't go as far to pretend as you clearly have
I accept that comes across as whataboutery - but I don’t see why NUFC should be singled out.
They elected that government and it claims to be doing things in their name.
As it is, we had a prisoner executed by firing squad just the other week. Many more promised.
I wish we never had Ashley or the Saudis - but let’s face it - we’ve not really had any say
They all went to Qatar and enjoyed their hospitality and will go to Saudi in a few years time and have a great time.
Hands will be wrung - but who cares eh ?
And visiting these countries doesn’t mean they’re not allowed to write about them; that would be ridiculous.
But I don’t recall anything like the same attention in the media to Sheikh Mansour buying the PL title (s) for Man City or their wins being tainted.
As it is, one could debate the extent to which Saudi money was responsible for Sunday’s win. I’d say it’s good management more than money.
Newcastle haven't won a trophy of note in 70 years. Yet they manage it when bought out by the Saudis
Big coincidence, eh?
I'm not a fan of the Saudi regime, but I first saw Nufc in 1972, should I support someone else?
That displays an inherent lack of understanding of fandom.
You like talking about it because it makes you feel intelligent.
You can enjoy your teams win but also protest the ownership, like these people….
https://www.nufcfansagainstsportswashing.org.uk/
People’s family members grew old waiting for this. Their partners & children took pictures of them to the match.
Now you’re asking them to cheapen the memory because you want them to share your opinion.
(1/2)
Or a deep dive into the Kroenke portfolio that lobby against workers rights to expand profits? Or their 80 million donations to republican candidates?
70 years and finally win something and less than 2 days you are already raining on our parade. Fine. But please tell Chelsea fans they shouldn't expect to be anywhere near the top of the table. Their success was paid for by Russia.
If it’s the former maybe use google before you accuse people of not writing about other things…
Again don't disagree with your point. Just wanted to savour a moment awaited for so very long for little while before facing up to some harsh realities.
And look, this is just one Guardian columnist. Sky didn’t mention it all day on Sunday
Made pacts with land grabbing dictators
Mass deportations of children
Anarcho capitalism running amok
But let's have ago at a few new castle fans
I
they do £1.5billion of business with the UK PER MONTH
this isn't N.Korea trying to come in from the cold and your notion of sportswashing is just so naive you don't realise
It's a PIF vanity project with ROI, not much more
Their human rights record is terrible and it has been neither negatively nor positively impacted by their stake in NUFC
It just sounds like bitterness from other fans that Newcastle have some investmen
Value of NUFC has already tripled since they bought it
Explain the concept then, if you can and then explain how that applies here..
Id recommend you read the article before posting
remember when your colleague Auclair demanded that NUFC fans should be assaulted having the shirts ripped off their backs and be forced (presumably at the point of a knife or with a gun pointed at them) to apologise for who owns the club? (one of your old FW pods)
56 years is a long time and I've lost friends who didn't see yesterday.
Football at the financial level is ruined with despir's money but there are still thousands of genuine fans.
Let us enjoy this and STFU #NUFC
https://www.nufcfansagainstsportswashing.org.uk/
“We have protested at matches, have a website and produced 4 fanzines in support of Saudi citizens imprisoned by the regime using our club to divert attention away from their many crimes and abuses.”
Even if there were only 6 (there aren’t) it doesn’t make them wrong.
You can't buy heritage.
Enjoy the shelf-stacking! #NUFC