January 28 – Amnesty International have criticised the potential £340 million purchase of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabian investment fund (PIF) – a vehicle of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman – saying the deal is “sportswashing, plain and simple.”
“Saudi Arabia is well-known for its attempts at ‘sportswashing’—trying to use the glamour and prestige of top-tier sport as a public relations tool to distract from the country’s abysmal human rights record,” said Amnesty International in a statement.
“Under the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, there’s been a sweeping human rights crackdown . . . There’s been a blatant whitewash over Jamal Khashoggi’s grisly murder, there are continuing concerns over Saudi hacking, and the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen has a bloody record of launching indiscriminate attacks on homes and hospitals,” continued the statement.
The Saudi profile in sports has grown following the staging pf Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight boxing match against Andy Ruiz as well as Spain’s Super Cup. Amnesty International UK’s Head of Campaigns, Felix Jakens, said the Newcastle takeover talks don’t come as a major surprise.
The Arab kingdom has been at the end of global scrutiny for months following a series of human rights abuses, involvement in various proxy wars in the Middle East, and the ruthless killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.
British billionaire and Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has been seeking a buyer for Newcastle for some years now. The relationship of the sportswear retail tycoon with the club’s fans has long been troubled. Newcastle United boast a big fan base in the UK, but during Ashley’s reign the supporters have gradually become disillusioned with disappointing results. Newcastle currently sit 14th in the Premier League, seven points from the relegation zone.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1734900611labto1734900611ofdlr1734900611owedi1734900611sni@o1734900611fni1734900611