When news of Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) interest in Newcastle first emerged in 2020 there was a flurry of opposition and hit-piece articles that formed a narrative around Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
While the reality probably lies with the dispute over broadcast rights in the Saudi kingdom, putting the human rights angle front and centre bears the hallmark of a propaganda tactic designed to elicit emotive arguments as to why PIF ownership was ‘inappropriate’.
Rather than ‘maintaining the image of the league’, the opposition was more likely to be formed of defensive sabotage attempts by established power clubs aiming to prevent a powerful competitor for European spots and world-class players.
The fury among the owners of other clubs – Everton, Manchester United and Tottenham in particular – can more truly be understood as frustration for having been blindsided that the deal was still on in the background, and tellingly it sounds as though the smaller clubs were more relaxed about the matter.
The human rights angle has merit in some honest quarters but doesn’t hold up to scrutiny in the global era of football.
In terms of the larger picture, if any nation with what Westerners might arbitrarily describe as a dubious human rights record were to be thrown out of international football, half of FIFA would be barred form the game.
This of course extends to Australia. If the Socceroos’ World Cup qualification opponents Saudi Arabia are the No. 1 reprehensible owners in the English Premier League, Manchester City are a fairly close second.
And the City group of course owns A-League champions Melbourne City. Logic therefore dictates that Melbourne City fans who are every bit as happy with the facility and player investment as Newcastle fans will be are equally guilty of sportswashing.
That is without going into the fact that more broadly every nation or industry on the planet has some form of significant relationship with PIF via Saudi Aramco, which provides the critical mass of the oil supply utilised in a large swathe of global industries.
(Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
One angle of critique follows the line of thinking that the Premier League and Newcastle have somehow “sold their soul”. It is worth remembering that that horse bolted for English football a long time ago. I would point to the time the English Premier League was formed in the early 1990s as to when it became a highly commercialised brand.
In an ideal world fans would have sizeable ownership stakes via supporter trusts and stadiums would have German-style safe standing areas allowing for affordable seating and a richer atmosphere. The vibrant soul of a club could then be honoured.
Instead we as a football fraternity invited holding companies to set up as an indirect way to allow the once barred practice of commercialised share trading in English clubs as listed companies.
Additionally, mandates for all-seated stadiums using safety as a pretext gentrified the attendance base and deprived younger fans of the opportunity to attend through the consequential rise of ticket prices.
The Newton Heath rebellion against Glazer ownership of Manchester United and the opposition to Rupert Murdoch’s earlier takeover attempt at the turn of the millennium both indicate the fact that clubs aren’t merely English institutions anymore but at least dual nationals as well as global sporting brands. This started becoming the case some time ago.
There is a dynamic where there simultaneously exists English fans of the local club and worldwide fans of that same club’s global brand.
The consequence of football becoming globalised – with the English Premier League the domestic league of focus in this phenomenon – is that the ownership and investment structure subsequently reflects the world we live in with all its good, bad and uncomfortable facets.
Indeed it is rather rich for the chairmen of clubs that attempted to form a franchise-inspired Super League to be complaining about money and image of the league given their breakaway idea would have completed the drift of clubs from being quasi-local institutions to being pure commercial franchises.
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
I know the world has gone to Hell in a hand basket, but if Trump ever buys West Ham, I'm switching to Millwall.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I must admit, I liked my sport when it was largely amateur. Now we singing the same song. I still remember my team in England when I was a young boy in Australia, with Brian Clough taking Derby to the top on the old 2nd Division & 2 or 3 years we win Division 1 (Old Premiership). Then it the 80s & 90s super clubs emerged like Liverpool, Man U & Arsenal buying all the players. Derby came 5th in the late 90s & the big clubs just brought our best players & we go relegated the following year. Maybe that's why I laugh when big sugar daddies now buy Man City, Chelsea & now Newcastle & you hear the supporters of the super clubs on yesteryear complaining about these new clubs now buying all the best players.
stu
Guest
And certainly your right to have your voice heard, if we loose that from either side and respect the right to say it we simply slip into the same mindset of some regimes under discussion here. I must admit, I liked my sport when it was largely amature. All the best.
Punter
Roar Rookie
The jizz was no I don't. But it appears in this political article, we are allowed to post along as criticism is towards certain regimes & rightly so, but don't you criticise the West.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I don't care enough to protest. Newcastle has just done what others have before. Soccer, particularly English soccer, has made its bed, it can lie in it.
stu
Guest
All good Punter, apparently there is a pelican around these parts.
NUFCMVFC
Roar Guru
Lol they changed my headline which makes "part 2" its own piece I've got no time for Chairmen and people who were going to launch the Super League trying to lecture anyone on anything As for acquiring Football team, I suspect this is part of a greater "Vision 2030" initiative and sounds like they may be wanting to set up a Emirates/Etihad style airline as well as they were surprisingly persistent in wanting to see the deal through https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/potential-new-newcastle-united-sponsors-21851414 Lol, I don't think we are going to get "visit Saudi" tourism sponsor for western audiences despite the annual Mecca pilgrimage thing but the Airline would make sense as I suspect much of this is a matter of aiming to build worldwise commercial networks Real test comes in terms of if they want to go further than merely replacing the Sports Direct signs with a Saudi Airline but I suspect they are clever enough not to want to change the name of St James Park to any kind of equivalency of Emirates/Etihad Stadium
Punter
Roar Rookie
I answered but it has disappeared.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
A undoubtedly despicable act, for sure. Shall we draw up a list of what the US have done in the last two years? Twenty years? Forty years? The only difference between Saudi Arabia and the US is that the former is more likely to get caught with the blood on their hands while the latter is more likely to at least have gotten to the bathroom. I wonder if you would protest as much if Trump bought a team?
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Man City & Newcastle given their owners will dominate the EPL within a few years... teams like Man U, Liverpool etc will not be able to match the revenue spend... Some may say to the bigger English clubs so what, the bigger clubs have always out spend the smaller clubs so they are getting a taste of their own medicine... My concern is over time maybe 30 beyond wealthy owners buy a number of clubs across Europe and that the Super League is only a matter of time ..
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
The Jets themselves confirmed via a separate statement that the consortium will be "led by Sydney FC, Western United FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers FC." https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/sport/football/article/2021/01/04/consortium-league-clubs-take-over-newcastle-jets-owner-stripped-licence
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
No because Saudi is a state where they ordered the murder and dismemberment of a journalist within the last 2 years.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
You're a pelican for even asking the question.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Because Western nations are the standard bearer for human rights?
Micko
Roar Rookie
Who are these "three A League clubs" that own Newcastle Jets?
stu
Guest
Punter.....I want to just narrow down to your last comment regarding the Murdoch press. Do you accept CNN are anti republican and push fake news?
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
I wonder whether the Saudis are interested in following the Emirates example and establishing franchises all over the world? Worth bearing in mind that the Newcastle Jets is currently owned by three A-League clubs, an absurd situation in its own right. Would not a takeover by the Saudis to create a worldwide Newcastle brand be a better outcome for Australian Football?
Punter
Roar Rookie
Stu, The idea of aligning oneself to a US led democracy is not terrible for a Western country. However, it's not great in Sth America, Asia, middle East or Africa. The US as seen recently with our lovely little country gets a lot of its wealth from Arms sales, they are the greatest Arms dealer by a long long way. They love conflicts in these regions. See Iraq!!!! US, UK & Australia involvement little Johnny Howard, yes country was ruled by a cruel dictator, prior to invasion, now it's a far more dangerous & treacherous place after invasion, likewise Syria, this was Clinton's baby. Lots of arms required in both these countries to fight. Yet the Liberal government happy to invade to protect these people are now not so happy to take refugees. As for US being in a mess, a huge thanks to Murdoch & fake news for that.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Once upon a time I believed that western democracies had scrutiny but I’m no longer convinced. Does the media in Australia provide any scrutiny - I don’t think do? Are politicians accountable - I don’t think so? So yeah, I take your point (and I’m not trying to defend the Saudi’s in any way) but articles like this miss them point completely
stu
Guest
Waz...just picking up on your comment regarding our western logic to human rights activity. I agree that the western governments will justify an action taken, as will China and Russia for example. However, is it not better that in our western democracy there will be scrutiny and opposition at some stage of the process unlike the other nations mentioned above. You also mention your worry about what our own government is doing, I would like you to quantify that so I can understand your thoughts on this. Not one of us should be that naive to assume governments do not follow a lead that does not secure power and a perceived security for the nation, and not one of us should be that naive to believe the actions of those considered to be our foes make decision based on our best interests. The proof is in front of us now. In my opinion, I like the way of life I have. I have the freedom to pick and choose who to vote for, disagree with and complain about. This is the basic tenant of a free democracy. Therefore I would support the block of nations that will support that way of life against any nation that would like to erode that way of life for me, so to further that.....I support Australia's ties with the US. Is democracy perfect? Most certainly not.....is the US a mess right now under a confused Biden? I think so. Waz... there is a big geo-political struggle happening and I agree that one causality is human rights, but at least the issue can be raised and debated in the west as we are doing in a small way here on a sports page!