Journalist Ian Abrahams has issued an ‘apology’ after stating live on talkSPORT that Newcastle United only get 52,000 into St James’ Park as there’s ‘nothing else to do’.
His argument was centred around the fact he doesn’t believe we are a big club (a tedious debate which is besides to point), with him instead going on to make a disrespectful claim about the city instead.
The rant infuriated several fans and regional reporters, and he’s since come out with the following ‘apology’ – a response which seems far from sincere:
“What I will apologise for, because I do seem to have got this badly wrong, is apparently there is a lot more to do in Newcastle than I ever believed possible at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, other than watching football.”
“I have spent some time and read the constructive criticism of what I said yesterday about Newcastle and it’s Football Club. I was clearly wrong about what I said about the City/area, but maintain attracting a big crowd doesn’t equal a big club
“I appreciate the constructive and well put comments pointing out the errors of what I said, for those who were just rude and abusive, I suggest you look at how you put across your arguments in future.”
The first line is pathetic. ‘Apparently there is a lot more to do in Newcastle than I ever believed possible at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, other than watching football’. There’s a hint of sarcasm and a feeling here that he still stands by his original point and has just been advised to ‘apologise’.
The last line is a bit rich too. He has a responsibility to ‘put across his argument’ in the right way when on the radio to thousands of listeners, yet he failed, so I’m not sure how he can be preaching this to others.
Newcastle United’s very own Rob Elliot has weighed in on the ‘debate’ too, claiming Abrahams comments are ‘way off’, with him finding his comments totally ‘unacceptable’.
This is way off, one of the greatest supported clubs in premier league and championship history, despite winning any trophies.(most clubs have to win one to achieve this) but to disrespect the area is unacceptable, one of best places to live in the country.#morethenjustapark https://t.co/DbosSbWnX1
— Rob Elliot (@the_dilsh) September 25, 2018
