• The forums will be unavailable for a few hours on Saturday 6th June, when they do return they will initially be in a degraded state with some features missing, but normal posting/reading will be possible. The main website will not be affected by these updates.
    New user registrations are currently disabled.
    Some other features of the forum are also currently disabled.

NUFC/Sportwashing

Status
Not open for further replies.

Skellington said:
It’s now pretty obvious that the mags supporters trusts and various other groups and politicians were lying when they said that they would raise human rights issues, so there won’t be even the smallest amount of dissent from them. This is a shame, because it would be interesting to see how the Saudis deal with it. They are quite obviously far more intolerant of criticism than our leaders have to be in this country.

At the moment there is an unpleasant situation around Ronaldo at Man United, and the PL, sky sports, and Man United are following the tried and trusted British method of simply ignoring what is right in front of their faces. At some point things may change and they’ll have to acknowledge it, at which point everyone will pretend to be shocked and horrified. That’s how we do these things in this country.

That is not how they do things in countries like Saudi Arabia. They are extremely sensitive to any dissent, and it is swiftly dealt with. Khasshogi is the obvious example, but also worth noting that the women who campaigned (successfully) for the right to drive were jailed, and I think are still there. Teenagers who protested against the regime face the death penalty. How would a country like that react to protests involving the football team they are using for propaganda purposes?

China’s reaction to criticism of their under 20 side may give us some indication. A few years ago, their under 20s were playing the first game on a tour of Germany, when it became clear that there were 6 Tibetan flags in a crowd of 400, and they might be visible on Chinese tv. This resulted in the game being delayed for half an hour while the flags were removed. The rest of the tour was cancelled and the Chinese side went home.

So how would the Saudis react if their propaganda project began to attract even a small degree of that sort of criticism?

There won’t be much protesting at St James’, but 50% of their teams matches are away matches. Could the next atrocity / international outrage act as a spark for opposing fans to protest against the mags owners? Can guarantee that the Saudis won’t be prepared for the sort of football banter that the mags themselves showed at Old Trafford this season.

If they did face any sustained criticism of that nature, I think they’d pack up and leave. They won’t fund a propaganda project if it becomes a focal point for criticism of their regime.

Seems unlikely at this exact moment, but there’s still a small chance that this could unravel in the most hilarious fashion imo.
Click to expand...
Interestingly enough the WWE are getting pelters in the US due to their links with Saudi Arabia and MBS. They are holding an event in Saudi this month which will feature women. The women can fight but have to be covered with no flesh showing and no "sexual" moves. It's a big step seen as women weren't allowed to attend the first event there. The last time they were there the wrestlers where held at gunpoint at the airport because MBS wasn't happy about the show.

The sportswashing isn't on par with Franco and Real Madrid. It's worse. It's propaganda to curry flavor with the West. Basically the Mags are being taken over by Colonel Gaddafi or Saddam Hussein.
 
Grumpy Old Man said:
Having to borrow suggests there's not a lot. At current interest rates, an investment fund carrying large amounts of cash isn't doing a very good job. PIF's job is to replace reducing oil revenues and support the House of Saud. It needs to generate substantial income returns and capital growth to do that. Large cash balances do neither.
Click to expand...
When you can borrow at practically zero percent interest it is akin to free money. The opportunity cost of liquidating another asset is much higher.
 
Rokerparkpies said:
So they are still mentally unstable then??
What I've witnessed at work today was beyond belief...grown men ( mags non attending..one 60 and one 63) going on like spoilt brats...I've worked along side them for approx 10 years or so and the banter was always light hearted and whitty..but all of a sudden a switch has been pressed and they've shown their true colours!!
Shouting about the takeover, mega money, we are shite etc..
Again I say..grown men!!..just wow!!
Click to expand...
Well I guess they'll be praying to mecca soon.
 
Sons of The Wear said:
Wonder if when opposition supporters give the Mags fans absolute dogs abuse at grounds throughout the country about their new masters and make reference to murderers, heed choppers and general abusers that Plod will take any action for racism? That wound be outrageously contradictory!

What will the Saudis think about the knee being taken, the NUFC women’s team, Rainbow 🌈 Laces day, Mag scummers being pictured with flags written in Arabic proclaiming Islam whilst slurping cans of strong European lager etc..

Wankers like Shearer focusing on Ashley making them all miserable as opposed to confronting the real issues in this argument, NUFC Pride saying their abuse of homosexuals etc has nothing to do with them and more with Amnesty International etc.., Sky TV with their constant promotion of the knee and BLM and other politically slanted actions now slavering all over the Mag fans and saying nothing about the Saudis standing for everything they publicly oppose.

What a sick pantomime all this is.
Click to expand...
It certainly be interesting at the next Newcastle sky sports game when they all take the knee “against all forms of discrimination “ as the shill Martin Tyler parrots . Hang on, the owners are in favour of the death penalty for homosexuals…….
 
ir35 said:
Wow, probably SEB but I’m sure theyll be welcomed with open arms in any Saudi based pre season tournament.
You must be logged on to see media items
Click to expand...
"They've got loads of money and there is evidence of them talking occasionally to Amanda Staveley, who is a woman. So we are prepared to overlook their history of barbarity against our fellow LGBTQ+ in KSA, and we welcome their wallet and whatever it buys with open arms."
 
woodlebert said:
Yes I meant the country more generally, all of your examples there are derbies to a degree. For instance, Southampton v Newcastle. I can't see many Southampton fans going for the Saudi Arabian link.
Click to expand...
This saudi vile murder regime story is to international not to resonate with all clubs in the land!It aint going to go away ..it will be ignored by nufc fans and i doubt they could care less but it aint going away!
 
Moderate Power said:
When you can borrow at practically zero percent interest it is akin to free money. The opportunity cost of liquidating another asset is much higher.
Click to expand...
You must be logged on to see external links

Whilst not directly related to PFI, Saudi Aramco is owned by the Government and is valued at 2 trillion. It rivals Apple for top spot in the world’s most valuable companies. I work in the sector, they have more cash than they know what to do with.
 
"Eighty per cent of the funding for the deal will come from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is seen as separate from the state, despite the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman acting as chair for the body."

The fact the Crown Prince is chair for this investment vehicle must have escaped the Premier League's due diligence.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top