NUFC Fans Against Sportwashing have called for the prospective Newcastle City councillors to clarify their position on Saudi Arabia. Newcastle United is owned by Saudi Arabia, a country with significant human rights abuses, systemic racism, and also stalled progress at the COP30 climate talks in 2025. The letter references eight demands made to the current council leader Karen Kilgour in a meeting with the Saudi human rights group ALQST.
Clarifying their position on Saudi Arabia
Campaigners from NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing (NUFCFAS) have written to every political party standing in the Newcastle City Council elections in May, asking them to clarify their position on the Saudi state ownership of Newcastle United, speaking as Newcastle United fans who oppose the ownership of the club by the human rights abusing regime.
Eight demands from ALQST
The letter includes a reference to the eight demands made to the present council leader Karen Kilgour in a meeting with Saudi human rights group ALQST last year. ALQST stands for “Al-qist”, meaning justice in Arabic.
The human rights group explained in the meeting that Newcastle City Council could make a massive difference by publicly supporting Saudi prisoners of conscience. However, NUFCFAS also state that, as yet, none of the eight points have been acted upon by Karen Kilgour and the council leadership.
In the letter, NUFCFAS ask: “Can you assure me that if elected to Newcastle upon Tyne City Council in May 2026, you will do what you can to abide by the requests above and to ensure that the City Council does as well?”
Modern day slavery and racism
The letter from NUFCFAS draws particular attention to the final point that ALQST made in the meeting in Newcastle in February 2026, that the council should “liaise with the North East of England trade union movement to look at the implications of investments in Newcastle upon Tyne by companies such a NOON given the shocking details of mistreatment of workers in Saudi Arabia by the Newcastle United FC sponsor.”
NUFCFAS point out that, while at present Newcastle City Council has a stated policy against modern day slavery practices, it has never taken up this issue with the Saudi owned football club. This is compounded by the fact that Newcastle United sleeve sponsor Noon is accused of modern day slavery practices including the perpetration of institutional racism.
Racism against Sunderland player
NUFCFAS also claim that the recent racist abuse suffered by a Sunderland player helps us to remember that everyone should be held accountable for discrimination, even sponsors and governments. It was pointed out that while Newcastle’s council leader, Karen Kilgour condemned the fans’ racism as “completely unacceptable”, she has not done the same for the institutional racism practiced by the Newcastle United sponsor or indeed of the Saudi state which owns the club.
NUFCFAS have commented: “It is right to condemn individual fans spouting racist abuse, but when are politicians going to address the institutional and systemic racism of the owners of Newcastle United? Their power and wealth should not make us turn a blind eye to their racism.”
Newcastle City Council green policies
The present Newcastle City Council have made a Carbon Net Zero by 2030 pledge. However, NUFCFAS point out that Newcastle United chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan is also chairman of Aramco, which is the world’s largest oil producer. The company is said to be worth around $1.6 trillion, making Aramco the world’s largest polluter, and it remains deeply committed to expanding fossil fuel production, despite the clear dangers to humanity emanating from the climate crisis.
Aramco is 98.5% owned by the Saudi Arabian state, which also owns Newcastle United Football Club. It has also been made clear that Saudi Arabia was the biggest obstacle to real progress at COP30 climate talks in late 2025.
Investment in Newcastle
NUFCFAS also state that very little investment from the Saudis in the infrastructure and welfare of the city of Newcastle even though “in the past Newcastle City councillors and officials have made it clear they would welcome Saudi investment in the city”.
NUFCFAS is said to be “asking council candidates to say whether they think it appropriate that the city should welcome investment from Saudi Arabia when a major part of their sports sponsorship strategy is to block international climate action and protect its fossil fuel profits. Policies which on paper Newcastle City Council is opposed to.”
What will new councillors’ position be?
In relation to all the issues raised above, NUFCFAS are seeking to find out just what the position of new councillors will be on the issue of Saudi ownership of Newcastle United in relation to human rights, racism and the Climate Crisi
