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

[The Rat]

I agree. It’s not the same at all

It’s stupid PR mind, brain dead

Aye seems an unneeded own goal

 

[Safc98]

'Facilities?'

We've gone to Spain many times over the recent years and it has been completely adequate man .

Aye. Can guarantee if we had gone to Spain instead of Dubai that the owners were just being “cheap” again

 

[Hull_Mackem]

Its up to you, of course, but that seems like a massive overreaction. Playing a friendly against a Saudi side (likely because there weren't many other options) isn't, even indirectly, assisting the ruling regime of Saudi Arabia. Neither does it mean we're partaking in it or facilitating it. If it was Saudi state money being injected into the club it would be a very different matter, but that's miles away from playing a friendly against a random Saudi side. A friendly that isn't going to be in any way lucrative for either party and will be very low key.

Its a tone deaf decision, but talk of walking away from the club because of it?

How people see this is sportwashing or facilitating evil is a mystery to me. Shows a complete misunderstanding of what sportwahsing is

 

[scott934]

from what I’ve read it looks like club’s biggest financial backer, main supporter and person the stadium is named after worked for the government military and led a campaign that was responsible of a bombing of Yemen in 2009 that killed a thousand people?

Aye it’s just a game and it isnt the same as being owned by the state, and of course you do want to avoid tarring everyone with the same brush, but why do we need to align ourselves with this kind of stuff at all? it’s really uncomfortable and it’s tone deaf

According to Wiki (dodgy I know), the stadium is named after this bloke:

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Which he is a royal, but seems to have been more the charitable type of person? Again dodgy source but there seems to be little good information.

 

[Father Jack Hackett]

You aren’t going to find many billionaires who doesn’t have links to countries like Saudi unfortunately. That’s just the way it is. Kyril’s family sold some of their company to Abu Dhabi and I can’t remember any outrage (correct me if I’m wrong).

We have no control whatsoever over what a business does with its shares. We should, however, have a say on playing teams connected to these monsters as part of their sportswashing exercises

 

[Binxy]

Looks to me like we're over there to hawk the club out to potential investors.

 

[Why sack Durban]

Or his country has diplomatic relations, and he represents his country

Aye fair enough however he’s the same person so the two aren’t mutually exclusive

 

[Hampshire makem]

They obviously don't give a shit about our thoughts or safety.

Nope

 

[frenchduke]

According to Wiki (dodgy I know), the stadium is named after this bloke:

You must be logged on to see external links

Which he is a royal, but seems to have been more the charitable type of person? Again dodgy source but there seems to be little good information.

could be the case, apologies for my mix up if that’s the case

 

[ilovehorswill]

So if say Sartori is getting someone in from Saudi involved in the club (hypothetically of course) youd be ok with that?


Well he is an official of Saudi to another country so I'd say so yes

I mean this week Poland summoned the Russian ambassador. So he must be high profile official surely?

I imagine Saudi Ambassador to Uruguay is the kind of job you get if you’re a promising diplomat who’s been caught cracking one off to Caitlin Jenner whilst eating a pork chop

 

[Sidewinder2]

Takes away any moral high ground we had

 

[Roker Mackem]

Takes away any moral high ground we had

Nope

 

[Sidewinder2]

Nope

It does, just people won't admit it on here.

Saudis using football to be deemed acceptable.

Anybody denying it whilst slating the Mags is frankly a hypocrite. We should be nowhere near the fuckers, simple as that.

 

[Roker Mackem]

It does, just people won't admit it on here.

Saudis using football to be deemed acceptable.

Anybody denying it whilst slating the Mags is frankly a hypocrite. We should be nowhere near the fuckers, simple as that.

Completely different issues. There is no sportswashing going on here. Why would a behind closed doors game against Sunderland wash away any of the Saudi crimes committed by their leader?

 

[scott934]

It does, just people won't admit it on here.

Saudis using football to be deemed acceptable.

Anybody denying it whilst slating the Mags is frankly a hypocrite. We should be nowhere near the fuckers, simple as that.

This is a football club, not a government entity. As far as I can tell they are no more to blame than SAFC are for the tories.

 

[kildaremackem]

This is a football club, not a government entity. As far as I can tell they are no more to blame than SAFC are for the tories.

what if its owned by the govt? same as newcastle is part owned by the saudi government?

 

[scott934]

what if its owned by the govt? same as newcastle is part owned by the saudi government?

Then aye it would be worse, especially if they do any sort of promotion of it.

 

[andyj73]

Looks to me like we're over there to hawk the club out to potential investors.

.. They get Saudi type investment and I'm finished with them .. I'd never renew with that type of shit going on ..

 

[North Yorks Mackem]

Takes away any moral high ground we had

Of course it doesn't. The two are totally incomparable.

Yet a large element of our support is uncomfortable with this.

And the mags openly celebrate and actively defend the saudi state.

 

[Ghandi Floss]

NOW you are starting to understand why foreign billioanires buy football clubs..its the access/networking it gives them...

That’s certainly the only reason that lying cunt Methven got involved.