The Dictator

[HughieG]

There's a big discussion going on on one of the NUFC Facebook forums whether or not it is ethically possible to support a Dictator who has employed children (child abuse) and hired a hitman that actually killed one of his critcics.

What is your take on that?

[Geordie1974]

Ask them what they think about the Chinese owners seeing as their govt has been torturing and killing Muslims in the past few years.
Ask them about Russian owners and their govts support of the Syrian regime.
Ask them why Sheffield Utd are not questioned as they have a Saudi owner.
I am no way defending the Saudi way of life but feel its only an issue because its Newcastle United. I didn't hear this outcry when he met Theresa May, when he dined with the Queen.
There is a lot of jealousy out there from fans of other clubs worried sick we will be in a position to threaten the media darlings top six Premier League clubs.

[toptoon]

iAsk them what they think about the Chinese owners seeing as their govt has been torturing and killing Muslims in the past few years.
Ask them about Russian owners and their govts support of the Syrian regime.
Ask them why Sheffield Utd are not questioned as they have a Saudi owner.
I am no way defending the Saudi way of life but feel its only an issue because its Newcastle United. I didn't hear this outcry when he met Theresa May, when he dined with the Queen.
There is a lot of jealousy out there from fans of other clubs worried sick we will be in a position to threaten the media darlings top six Premier League clubs.

This.

[Jammy89]

On SSN now that Saudi's human rights record unlikely to derail the deal.

[Curian]

Ask them what they think about the Chinese owners seeing as their govt has been torturing and killing Muslims in the past few years.
Ask them about Russian owners and their govts support of the Syrian regime.
Ask them why Sheffield Utd are not questioned as they have a Saudi owner.
I am no way defending the Saudi way of life but feel its only an issue because its Newcastle United. I didn't hear this outcry when he met Theresa May, when he dined with the Queen.
There is a lot of jealousy out there from fans of other clubs worried sick we will be in a position to threaten the media darlings top six Premier League clubs.

Whilst your correct in saying that you cannot defend the Saudi's; as usual you are spot on with this observation.

[HughieG]

I think we all agree, but I do think it's complex.

I don't condone his behaviour, in fact he sounds like the most moronic yet dangerous asshole. End of.

Like I argued on Facebook, should PSG fans feel ashamed as they are buying T-shirts and season tickets off a basically moralefree state in the Persian Gulf? No, of course not. That doesn't mean their owners aren't fuckin' idiots.

[Sclox]

Very few of the super rich got their money without treading on toes at some point.

Thats the world we are in.

I aint going to preach about it and sure as hell am not going to object to any deal taking place.

If not us, it will be someone else.

Call me immoral if you want.

[Sclox]

There's a big discussion going on on one of the NUFC Facebook forums whether or not it is ethically possible to support a Dictator who has employed children (child abuse) and hired a hitman that actually killed one of his critcics.

What is your take on that?

Depends on the critic and what he was critiscising.

Depends on the pay and working conditions for the kids - are they being fairly paid doing safe work in reasonable conditions? Depends on the circumstances of the kids themselves- are they orphans? Their ages? What would the alternative without the job be for them?

[Geordie1974]

Wonder if these who expect NUFC to make a stand, when they go to fill their cars up think, fùck that its Saudi oil.

[Zippity]

It's a fair question, Hughie...a relevant one and a tricky one, too.

The thing is, in society we all operate on different levels because, well, it's what real life is made of. None of us condone what the Saudi regime do but, if you take a stand against one particular country, where do you draw the line? I suspect the Chinese are the worst of the lot and how many of us refuse to buy Chinese goods? Our Government deal with them, the Saudis, the Russians...the list goes on. Do people ask at the Tesco garage where their oil was sourced from before they put it in their tank?

I guess what I'm saying is that there isn't a government anywhere that doesn't have murky dealings and every global business must, similarly, deal with regimes that they would rather not.

For me, any Newcastle fan has the right tp have a problem with Saudi ownership but the rest can just fuck off sticking their oar in from their lofty, newly-acquired moral high horse.

Does Saudi ownership sit easily with me? No.

Is it going to stop me being fully invested in supporting the Club? I'm sorry, no. We'll be accused of everything from turning a blind eye to being hypocrites and I'm afraid I just don't care what others think.