Some incredible footage has emerged following Mike Ashley’s meal out with Rafa Benitez on Wednesday night, with the NUFC owner shown to put two fingers up towards frustrated fans protesting outside the restaurant in Ponteland.
It was reported earlier in the week that Ashley would take Benitez and the entire NUFC squad out for Pizza in a bid to improve his relationship with the Spaniard, and the ‘dinner date’ took place on Wednesday night.
Ashley, Benitez and several members of the NUFC squad were pictured heading into Ponteland’s Italian restaurant ‘Rialto’ – and news of the meeting’s location soon got out on social media, leading to several angry Newcastle fans turning up at the scene.
As the below video shows, fans vented at Ashley as he left the restaurant at around 10pm, chanting ‘where’s the money gone?!’.
Ashley’s response – sticking two fingers towards a frustrated fans:
If anyone, anywhere, ever thinks Ashley is good for our club then just look at this.
The question – where’s the money gone?
The answer – two fingers to the fans. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/g9jBikSwmu
— If Rafa Goes We Go (@IfRafaGoesWeGo) October 3, 2018
It was said the he met with Benitez (and the staff and playing squad) to ‘build bridges’ – yet this is how he responds to Newcastle fans showing their discontent.
It will be interesting to see how the national media react to this.
Let’s hope they report the ‘two fingers’ stuck up to frustrated fans, and not that he’s now ‘built bridges’ by buying the squad a few free pizzas.
Mike Ashley leaves Ponteland restaurant after talks with Rafa Benitez. Fans on hand to demand “where’s the money gone?”. Police present. pic.twitter.com/ND8aUOMk9y
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) October 3, 2018
So where exactly were the 2 fingers in that video?
Personally I’d find it hard to blame Ashley if he did. How would you react if a bunch of ignorant yobs were chanting and being abusive to you when you were trying to enjoy a quiet meal out.
I’d guess that none of those protesting would be capable of showing such restraint.
Brrrian(Quote)
For all the talk of protests this is what’s needed just like at rangers, hound him. Protests outside shops he’s not at have no impact.
Turn up wherever he is. Well done lads
Cc(Quote)
The 2 fingers is to the lad videoing him at the side of the car as it pulls away.
Whether you agree with the protests or not, you must agree that there is £140m of NUFCs money that is unaccounted for from the summer. You must see that his approach to transfer windows is wrong.
You must also appreciate that if he wants to sell the club, he’d put a price on it, not come out with ‘make me an offer’.
What he is doing is dead wrong mate, and we are walking into a third relegation under his tenure – why wouldn’t fans express their disapproval.
You say they wouldn’t show restraint, but nobody went for Ashley, nobody attacked the car and to my knowledge there were no arrests – so hardly yobbish.
Sharpy17(Quote)