• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. Amnesty: Newcastle kit bearing Saudi colors is sportswashing
Europe

Amnesty: Newcastle kit bearing Saudi colors is sportswashing

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 May 2022 09:41

Next season's away kit could be white and green, according to leaked images.

  • A leaked image (left) purporting to show Newcastle’s 2022-23 away kit designed by Castore, and (right) Saudi Arabia’s football shirt. (Twitter; Nike)
    A leaked image (left) purporting to show Newcastle’s 2022-23 away kit designed by Castore, and (right) KSA’s football shirt. (Nike)

Amnesty International has stated that Newcastle United wearing the colors of Saudi Arabia's national football team on their away shirt next season would be "clear evidence" of Gulf regime sportswashing.

On Thursday night, images purporting to show Newcastle's uniforms for the upcoming season, the first full season under the majority ownership of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), were leaked online. 

Although photos showed the home colors as black and white, the away colors were white with green trim, the same as the Saudi national team and a combination never worn by the Premier League side.

Since the Premier League approved a takeover last October, there have been concerns about PIF's proximity to the Saudi state. The league said it had assurances that Saudi Arabia would not have control of Newcastle, but Amnesty International said the images suggested otherwise.

On his account, Amnesty International UK’s head of campaigns Felix Jakens said: “If it is true that Newcastle United is changing its away kit to match Saudi Arabia’s national colors, it exposes the power of the Saudi dollar and the kingdom’s determination to sportswash its brutal, blood-soaked human rights record.”

“Despite all their assurances of a separation between the Saudi owners and the club, this seems like clear evidence of the regime using Newcastle to portray a positive image”.

“Everyone – from fans to champions – needs to resist being part of Saudi Arabia’s propaganda drive, be aware of what is going on there and speak out about the government’s abuses: the mass executions, and [the journalist Jamal] Khashoggi’s murder.”

It is also worth mentioning that Newcastle had just appointed the Saudi Golf Federation's chief executive, Majed al-Sorour, to their board. 

Sorour's Golf Saudi project has hired Greg Norman to design a course near Riyadh, and the PIF is a major supporter of the Australian's contentious LIV Golf invitational series.

This week, Norman called Khashoggi's murder, which US authorities believe was sanctioned by Saudi ruler Mohammed bin Salman, a "mistake."

From acquiring clubs to investing in billions of dollars and hosting international events, Saudi Arabia has been using sports and sporting events to whitewash its crimes against humanity, most notably its aggression in Yemen.

Read More: 2021 Roundup: Sportswashing human rights violations
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Amnesty International
  • Sportswashing
  • Newcastle United

Trending Now

All
The KSA's Public Investment Fund is using sportswashing to divert attention away from the Kingdom's human rights abuses

Saudi "Sportswashing" continues with $1B Inter Milan takeover

Most Read

US dollar may lose status as global reserve currency: Yellen

US dollar may lose status as global reserve currency: Yellen

  • US & Canada
  • 22 Mar
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference on 25, February, 2022. (AFP)

Kiev unable to launch counteroffensive: Zelensky

  • Europe
  • 25 Mar
Europe's move has only increased Putin’s esteem outside the West -- but estimation of Europe’s political nous and understanding of Russia, however, is sharply diminished.

Lawfare Comes into Fashion: The New Geo-political ‘Rack’

  • Analysis
  • 25 Mar
President Joe Biden listens as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 3, 2023 (AP).

Hersh: Nord Stream explosion decision possibly 'anger' or 'punishment

  • US & Canada
  • 25 Mar

Read this

All
Students from the Covenant School hold hands Monday after getting off a bus to meet their parents at a reunification site after a mass shooting at the school in Nashville. (Reuters)
US & Canada

Nashville school shooter had 7 guns hidden at home: Police

  • Today
Netanyahu, ministers slam Biden remarks over judicial overhaul
Palestine

Netanyahu, Israeli officials take a swing at the US over Biden remarks

  • Today
Elon Musk says Bill Gates' understanding of AI 'limited'
US & Canada

Elon Musk says Bill Gates' understanding of AI 'limited'

  • Today
Paramedics carry a migrant who was wounded in a deadly fire at an immigration detention center in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (AP)
US & Canada

Guards walk away during fire that killed 38 migrants on US border

  • Today
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS