Sunderland will face Saudi Arabian opposition Al Shabab in Friendly (poll in Parsnip)

[Roker Mackem]

See you back on the NUFC thread later on yeah?

Why are you following me? Bit weird

I don't care what the apologists say, this doesn't put the club in a good light

It's a bit of a PR blunder maybe. Nothing more than that.

 

[Ashley In!!]

"we had a shortlist of 10,000 potential opponents but the data said...."

 

[Onlyfoolsrushin]

Thought we must be playing the Mags.

Will there be public beheadings as half time entertainment?

Whoever at the club thought it was a good idea is an idiot.

 

[pride of the north]

I think it illustrates his point perfectly other than he didn't realise the link to the regime that you supplied for him. I think most successful sporting teams in Russia have links to the army.

Most of anything in Russia has some kind of link to the government, in my experience. Certainly, if you have any money, the government is good at finding ways of making sure you are on their side.

 

[dangermows]

Bet the mags were hoping this thread had gone differently . Morals lads

 

[Safc98]

Unless it has links to the Saudi state then does it matter? In 4 days people will be watching our country play against the tyrannical Iran.

 

[Roker Scoreboard]

I agree about Dubai but warm weather training is beneficial.

Temps in Spain and Portugal are perfect at the moment for some footy training.

 

[PeteFTM]

Completely tone deaf, just opening our metaphorical arses and allowing us to be pounded with accusations of hypocrisy.

 

[Kenna]

Extremely tone deaf from the club

 

[dangermows]

If we avoid defeat do this count towards the derby run

But a stupid decision playing Sawdis
An opportunity to maintain the moral high ground lost

Nope. Our fans kicking off about it only strengthens our position.

 

[tenpins]

Unless it has links to the Saudi state then does it matter? In 4 days people will be watching our country play against the tyrannical Iran.

We were drawn to play Iran.
We have chosen to play this side.
There is a clear difference.

 

[Moneyball]

Should have played a South American side in preparation for a link up.

Would have been potentially more lucrative moving forward.

Not PR rocket science to avoid fuckwits.

 

[hank williams]

Extremely tone deaf from the club

I’ve signed them up for the deaf club

 

[Safc98]

We were drawn to play Iran.
We have chosen to play this side.
There is a clear difference.

Okay that’s a fair point. And the other point I made?

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Can we draw up a list of countries/clubs that should be boycotted at all costs? Basically the whole Middle East, Russia and China for a start?

 

[tenpins]

Okay that’s a fair point. And the other point I made?

We could have picked a different team to play. It's fairly obvious how the majority of us feel about the Saudi involvement in sport.

 

[Far Tibetan Mountain]

We're playing a team from Riyad. We're not selling the club to a state who brutally murder their citizens and citizens of other countries on a regular basis.

 

[HeaderDownBrown]

Take an opinion poll have we?

Eh

 

[Ashley In!!]

Easy PR win for the club to say they've listened and pull out of this debacle.

Won't hold my breath though.

 

[Mowgli]

Easy PR win for the club to say they've listened and pull out of this debacle.

Won't hold my breath though.

Might cost them money to pull out. So it probably won't happen.