AI comments on Saudi Arabia’s failure to take Newcastle United

 LONDON, Aug. 3 (YPA) – Head of Economic and Social Justice at Amnesty International (AI) Stephen Cockburn has commented in an article in the British newspaper “The Guardian” on the failure of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s attempt to take over Newcastle United Club.

“The failed attempt to take over Newcastle was not the first attempt in the world to wash a reputation through sport and it will not be the last, as keeping politics out of sport is impossible”, Cockburn said.

This came amid widespread international and domestic criticism because of the poor record of Saudi Arabia and “bin Salman” in the field of human rights and freedoms.

Cockburn added that he was looking, as a fan for life, for a kind of change in the club, but the appalling human rights record in Saudi Arabia meant that the change was not what he was hoping for.

He affirmed that he did not want the club to turn as a tool of public relations to divert attention from violations such as the arrest and torture of women’s rights activists, amid broad Saudi aspirations to seize the club.

“The values of the club and its city mean a lot to thousands of fans who support the largest food bank in Britain in every match,” Cockburn said.

He noted that the club is part of the identity. “It means something much more than the deal.”

YPA