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Football

23rd Apr 2020

The human rights debate surrounding Newcastle United’s Saudi takeover

JOE

newcastle united

Out of the frying pan…

Newcastle United fans have been praying for the day to come, the day that owner Mike Ashley would sell the club and up sticks, consigning to history a period of resentment and anguish that will want to be forgotten.

That day is nearly here, but because Newcastle are Newcastle and life is unfair, what should be a moment of pure joy for the long-suffering fans has instead become a fierce debate over ethics in football, the responsibility on fans and the use of football clubs by brutal regimes to ‘sportswash’ their reputation.

We got Charlotte, a Newcastle United supporter, and Nicholas McGeehan, a human rights researcher and activist, to sit down to have an honest and frank debate on the moral dilemma associated with the takeover.