Prior to Saudi Arabia’s World Cup opener against Argentina, former Newcastle boss Graeme Souness claimed that the Middle Eastern country should be ‘nowhere near’ Newcastle United.
Debates over the ownership of our club are still ongoing over a year after the PIF confirmed the takeover, with Souness believing this is more proof of ‘sportswashing’ in our country.
With the World Cup currently being held in Qatar, many questions are being raised about different countries involvement in football, looking at their human rights record in particular.
PIF were able to prove to the Premier League that they were separate to the state of Saudi Arabia, hence the takeover, but this does not stop questions being asked.
The 69-year-old ITV pundit admitted that it’s not an ‘ideal world’ that we live in, accepting that investment from Saudi Arabia happens all over the world, yet it’s Newcastle United that continue to be targeted in this ongoing debate.
Speaking alongside Roy Keane on ITV, Souness said: “Football is such a vehicle for good and bad. The sportswashing that’s going on in our own country, Newcastle, there’s no way the Saudi’s should have Newcastle United – nowhere near it.
“But it’s not an ideal world, the Saudi’s have been invested in our country for decades, they’ve infiltrated every level of our country. Football has such a profile now, Saudi see it, Abu Dhabi see it, America see it, it’s a chance to improve whatever brand they’re involved in.
“Right now it’s a good news story about Manchester City, that brand, Man City and other teams they have bought, it’s only good news about them.
“I suppose Qatar will look upon Abu Dhabi with a bit of jealousy and they’ll be hoping after this tournament – it’s in their hands to improve workers rights, in their hands to improve diversification of the country.
“The LGBTQ community won’t go quietly, they’ll be on it all the time after the World Cup and that’s the risk they’ve taken, they’ve highlighted the problems within this country and people will be on them for the foreseeable future, if not forever.”
Another pundit afraid to name & shame Manchester United who have been taking the Saudi Riyal for 15 years & has helped them keep in the fair play rules. Anyway the ownership of NUFC is a fantastic mix of Arab & Jews and yet that never gets mentioned?
Michael Sursham(Quote)
What you mean the bloke who describes the Newcastle managers job as the worst he ever had, and his time at Newcastle was the worst of his life didn’t have anything good to say about Newcastle …. and the ex Sunderland manager didn’t challenge his views???
Sharpy17(Quote)
MEANWHILE ITS NEARLY XMAS …. souness has gone to watch football in a country he doesnt like probably getting paid extortionate amounts and staying in a posh hotel for expenses paid and eating the lap of luxury …… maybe he should go off with ronaldo and enjoy each others petty comments and childish behaviour …… he didnt say a word when they bought man city out ….
COLIN OLDHAM(Quote)
The mans a fool.
He ruined Liverpool. Ruined Blackburn and did nowt at Newcastle.
All he’s ever done in football is assault people on the pitch and sulk off it.
sparky(Quote)
have we not had enough of this Gay right and Gender equality, it is just another way of attacking another country and race way of thinking of living, basically racism that all it is, human right well ??say that to the thousands that got sent to Guantanamo bay, or all the thousands Afghan and Libyan and Iraqis’ that got killed, because of the west invasion for petrol. but it is ok if we say we have human right then that’s ok we don’t have to act on it. oh and when we supply all the arm’s to Saudi to invade Yaman it is ok because we are making money, but wait we are not making money the average person still paying very high prices for gas and electricity, so the tax payer pays for the war the invasion of Libya Iraq Afghan, but the benefit goes to the elite
can we stop talking about Human right please and sport washing rubbish, and gay right.
and lets try and fix our problem at home
Brian Marashi(Quote)
Of he feels that strong against it why is he there and picking up his tainted pay packet
Paul Florentine(Quote)
When did Albert Steptoe become Manager of France? I know his son, Jamie Vardy, plays for Leicester as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The geordie dictionary has a word that describes Souness perfectly. He is a nowt .
Nothing more need be said.
john Cowx(Quote)
Why does he keep going on about it .Its a done deal so just concentrate on been a football pundit. We use oil from Saudi,fly with Saudi airline,so stop driving a car or do you ask where the petrol comes from ?
david verity(Quote)
Never mind the Saudi bit – back to the headline.
How did he get tied up in the first place?
BykerBill(Quote)