PROTESTORS against the Saudi takeover of Newcastle have been spotted outside St James’ Park ahead of today’s game against Tottenham.
The £300million takeover was confirmed last week as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment fund ended Mike Ashley’s 14-year ownership of the North East outfit.
But there has been strong opposition to the takeover due to the human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
And protestors were at St James’ Park ahead of their first game since the takeover.
A van was spotted driving around the stadium with an image of Khashoggi and Bin Salman.
And the message on the side of the vehicle simply read: “Murdered 2.10.18.”
Human rights organisation Amnesty international have stated the deal was an attempt to “sportswash their [Saudi Arabia’s] appalling human rights record with the glamour of top-flight football.”
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And Amnesty’s CEO Sacha Deshmukh said: “Instead of allowing those implicated in serious human rights violations to walk into English football simply because they have deep pockets, we’ve urged the Premier League to change their owners’ and directors’ test to address human rights issues.
“The phrase ‘human rights’ doesn’t even appear in the owners’ and directors’ test despite English football supposedly adhering to Fifa standards.
“As with Formula One, elite boxing, golf or tennis, an association with top-tier football is a very attractive means of rebranding a country or person with a tarnished reputation.
“The Premier League needs to better understand the dynamic of sportswashing and tighten its ownership rules.”
Bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia – the country’s second most important position after the King.
He is the son of King Salman, but is in reality the most important and influential person in the Kingdom, given that his father suffers from Alzheimer’s.
Bin Salman obtained the position in summer 2017 after a power struggle with cousin Mohammad Bin Nayef, who was initially named Crown Prince but subsequently removed from all positions.
The 34-year-old also serves as the country’s Minister of Defence and deputy prime minister.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
