NUFC fans group holding new matchday protest against Newcastle United owners at St James’ Park | OneFootball

A group of Newcastle United fans will hold a new protest against the Newcastle United owners at St James’ Park.

The i news reporting that the ‘NUFC Against Sportswashing’ group are organising the protest.

It will take place outside St James’ Park on Friday, before the Saudi Arabia v Costa Rica friendly.

‘NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing (NUFCFAS) – staunch critics of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) purchasing the club in 2021 – is co-ordinating a protest and has urged people to meet outside the Alan Shearer statue at 7.15pm, 45 minutes before the game kicks off.

One poster states: “Don’t let the Saudi dictatorship use our city to divert attention away from their crimes” and “Stand against Saudi sportswashing”.

The group demanded the FA block the proposed games, advice the governing body did not heed.

They also requested that Newcastle City council cancel the games, but a spokesperson for the council admitted “the city council has no powers to intervene in sporting matches or events at St James’ Park”.’

Past protests by this NUFC fans sportwashing group have seen only a handful of protestors turn up at St James’ Park.

Doubtless it will be the same this time.

I just hope that like those previous times, it passes off peacefully.

Whether you agree with it or not, our society allows peaceful protests against all kinds of things.

Whilst the last thing we need as a fanbase is for there to be any trouble at this protest, as the media would absolutely love it and we’d never hear the last of it.

Predictably, these Saudi Arabia friendlies have created minimal interest in terms of locals going to watch. As this article (see below) by a Newcastle fan on Monday said, only the East Stand open for both games as things stand and only a few thousand tickets sold so far.

Article written by NUFC fan Lee Jones on The Mag earlier this week – 4 September 2023:

It is Saudi Arabia up next at St James’ Park.

I wonder how many Newcastle United loyalty points we will be given?

Yes, me and my daughter are heading along on Friday night (8pm) and the following Tuesday (5.30pm) to watch Saudi Arabia v Costa Rica and Saudi Arabia v South Korea.

Might see our first win or two since the opening day of the season!

When these Saudi Arabia matches were announced, there was a flurry of media stuff but nothing really since then, indeed nothing much really said anywhere from what I can see.

Two reasons why we are going, well three I suppose.

Something to do whilst no Newcastle matches, curiosity value, plus the tickets are very cheap. It is £5 and £3 concessions for each game.

I just had a look on the official NUFC ticketing site to see how ticket sales are going.

Amusingly, the Saudi Arabia games are listed under ‘ home matches’, it appears that only the East Stand open at the moment and I’m guessing a few thousand tickets sold for each of the two games, from what I could make out.

Anybody else reading this going? Maybe share why in the comments.

With everybody so stressed about tickets home and away these days, it would have been amusing and some light relief, if the club had announced that 100 loyalty points would be allocated to every Newcastle fan who bought a ticket for each of these Saudi Arabia matches.

That would have guaranteed worldwide media coverage as well, with headlines of ‘Newcastle United fans sell out Saudi Arabia’ friendlies’… with predictable outrage accompanying it.

I think there is a Sunderland player in the Costa Rica squad, interesting to see if any Mackems turn up to give Newcastle United / Saudi Arabia their cash.

Away from all the politics, for a second anyway, Saudi Arabia have got a massive claim to fame.

Argentina have only lost one of their last 47 matches, a run going back to October 2019, whilst they have won 15 of their last 16 internationals.

The exception in both cases was that shock Saudi Arabia 2-1 win over Argentina in the Qatar World Cup, a quiz question for the future no doubt.

Now just a case of us deciding which of our ‘Saudi Arabia’ kits to wear for these two matches. Should it be the NUFC white with green change strip from last season, or the new green with white change strip for this new season???

Newcastle United official announcement – 16 August 2023:

‘Newcastle United’s St. James’ Park stadium will host two international friendly fixtures featuring the Saudi Arabia men’s national team in September.

The Green Falcons will face Costa Rica at 8pm BST on Friday 8th September before taking on South Korea at 5:30pm BST on Tuesday 12th September.

A football-obsessed nation, Saudi Arabia caught the world’s attention at last year’s FIFA World Cup by beating eventual winners Argentina 2-1 in an enthralling group stage match at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

The two friendlies on Tyneside will form part of the team’s preparations for the AFC Asian Cup, which takes place in Qatar in January 2024.