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

[Fletch]

I personally wouldn't have sanctioned this game but I know nothing about this club and don't know what links they have to the Saudi regime.

If they're connected to the regime then I would hope we as a fan base do all we can to tell the club what we think about this friendly.

If their only connection is they're from the same country then we shouldn't tar everyone with the same brush as the Saudi regime.

I agree , still a bad decision though
And most fans be against it
Can’t have it both ways , slating the mags

 

[ksafc77]

Some reactions are so OTT.

 

[garyeaststand]

club hasn’t considered PR here, terrible decision

 

[dangermows]

I'm not going, fuck that.

 

[Hyltons finest]

It's a friendly for fitness, I doubt the Saudi regime are giving backhanders to Sunderland to get a friendly against a Saudi Arabian team. Some are just fuming because they know some thick mags will see this as comparable to being owned by the Saudis.

Exactly what I was about to post

 

[Roker Mackem]

We shouldnt be training in dubai, its a disgrace and waste of funds. Just paying for the lads to have a holiday basically.

Different issue entirely

 

[Foreigner]

Club with their finger on the pulse of the fanbase again, ffs

 

[naughtynose]

Don't see the issue here tbh.

 

[Roker Scoreboard]

I'm not really sure why there's so much outrage? It's a Saudi Arabian team, that's it.

Anything to do with the current Saudi regime, country or any club representing it should be avoided.

 

[I am Boss]

It's a friendly for fitness, I doubt the Saudi regime are giving backhanders to Sunderland to get a friendly against a Saudi Arabian team. Some are just fuming because they know some thick mags will see this as comparable to being owned by the Saudis.

I'd be pretty appalled if we went for a training week in Belarus and invited CSKA Moscow over for a friendly despite them not having involvement with the Russian regime

 

[Roker Scoreboard]

Don't see the issue here tbh.

Maybe have a read up on what the Saudi country get up to day to day, social affairs and all that.

 

[Roker Mackem]

Anything to do with the current Saudi regime, country or any club representing it should be avoided.

We going to refuse to play the Mags then?

 

[Roker Scoreboard]

We going to refuse to play the Mags then?

Daft point.

 

[ilovehorswill]

Some reactions are so OTT.

Exactly why the fixture shouldn’t happen. Expect a few renditions of “Fuck the mags and their Saudi leader” to further international relations

 

[dangermows]

Mags celebrate being owned by them. We kick off just because we are playing a team from there.

We have always been classy

Bet the mags reading this were waiting for us to say nowt so could try to deflect. Megalolz.

 

[ksafc77]

Maybe have a read up on what the Saudi country get up to date to day, social affairs and all that.

Al-Shabab FC aren’t the Saudi government. They’re a football club.

 

[naughtynose]

Maybe have a read up on what the Saudi country get up to day to day, social affairs and all that.

I'm well aware of the issues but this has nowt to do with sportswashing or the Saudi regime like, see our mates up the road for that.

 

[dangermows]

Exactly why the fixture shouldn’t happen. Expect a few renditions of “Fuck the mags and their Saudi leader” to further international relations

Why do some of our lot think Al Qaeda is pronounced Al Ky Eeda?

 

[Binxy]

We going to refuse to play the Mags then?

Every team should.

 

[Roker Scoreboard]

Of all the numerous teams available for friendlies at the moment we go and pick one from Saudi.