The proposed bill to introduce an independent football regulator is welcomed by people & organisations from The Football Supporters Association (FSA) to former Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch, but does it go far enough?
It is important that under the new legislation, breakaway, closed-shops competitions like the European Super League will be blocked.
It is speculated that the creation of the new regulator is expected to see Newcastle United’s ownership placed under fresh scrutiny. Under the new laws, clubs will have to obtain a license to operate and that will only be granted when they have proved the identity of their ultimate owner. The important point being that it will apply to existing owners as well as prospective owners.
Newcastle takeover
When the takeover of Newcastle was completed in 2021, it was only waved through when the Premier League received “legally binding assurances” that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – which has an 80 percent stake in the club – is separate from the Saudi state.
Those assurances seem certain to be re-examined when the new independent regulator is in position, especially as no-one connected with the club or the PIF bothers to pretend anymore that it is the Saudi regime which really owns the club.
The government claims the sustainability of the football pyramid will be addressed but it says nothing about the nation state ownership of clubs like Newcastle United and Manchester City, which really do threaten the future of football.
Last year, Tracey Crouch was asked directly on the Nicky Campbell Radio 5 show by NUFCFAS if she would support a ban of nation states and especially human rights abusing regimes owning community assets like football clubs. As a Conservative party representative, she refused to, but what about the FSA?
A clear position is needed
Unfortunately, the most influential fan organisation does not have a clear position against nation state ownership of clubs.
Here is why they should:
Nation state ownership, if allowed to continue, brings closer the prospect of multi-club ownership, and has serious ramifications for the competitive integrity of the game.
It also has a financially destabilising impact; and the use of clubs as branding vehicles for abusive states, known as sportswashing, is not good for the game or indeed the regions where the clubs are based.
There is also the question of the geopolitical rivalries between the states which own two of our historic football clubs.
Fans are supporting clubs competing in a league where tensions between foreign states have the potential to overshadow the competition. Our game is at risk of becoming inextricably entwined with the foreign policy of the UK which has very substantial political, economic and security interests in the Gulf region.
The Football bill is a small step forward but needs to go much further.
Sustainability
Real sustainability means a complete ban on nation states and human rights abusing regimes becoming owners of football clubs. This is something Labour representatives in the North East should support and urge a future Labour government to implement. Recently, the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Scriven called on the government to address and potentially ban the foreign ownership of English football clubs and sporting organisations.
The proposed bill and legislation should be a moment of reflection for everyone connected to the club, including Tyneside political representatives and fan groups.
When Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) completed the takeover of Newcastle United in October 2021, Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah stated that “If you think the Newcastle United takeover will stop me criticising the Saudi regime you don’t know me and you don’t know Newcastle.”
Onwurah also issued a statement saying that “many of us are horrified by the human rights record of Saudi Arabia which stands in direct opposition to the values of our city.” She also said that “I understand the new owners believe this investment is a sign of change and a desire to open up on the part of Saudi Arabia and I hope that is true.”
Human rights worse than ever
At the time of the takeover local politicians, Sky Sports presenters, and fan groups seemed to believe that Saudi Arabia purchasing Newcastle United might eventually lead to their entire society being transformed.
“Engagement” and being “critical friends holding the owners to account” were to be key steps in this process. It should not be forgotten that pre-takeover all those in a position to give a sober analysis of the consequences for the region of allowing such a regime to own our club, without seriously and honestly raising human rights, failed to do so.
‘Engagement’ has absolutely failed, and human rights abuse is worse than ever. NUFCFAS will organise a campaign to link up with fans of all clubs to get the new football regulator to oblige the Premier League to review the Saudi and UAE state ownership of Newcastle United and Manchester City.
A new Amnesty report, Kingdom of Repression, dismantles the Saudi regime’s image-laundering of the last few years of which ownership of Newcastle United has been an integral part. Despite Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) presenting himself as a reformer, the human rights situation in the country has markedly deteriorated since the takeover.
Draft penal code
A recently leaked draft penal code would further criminalise acts of speech protected under international law, including. defamation, insulting and questioning the judiciary.
In March 2024, NUFCFAS signed a joint letter with Amnesty International, Saudi human rights organisations, ALQST, ESOHR and NGOs condemning the arrest and prosecution of supporters of Al Safa Football Club (Al Safa FC) under Saudi Arabia’s notorious Anti-Cybercrime Law for chants at a recent match, which the authorities deemed “sectarian”. This act of repression – curtailing the right to free speech in football stadiums, at a time when the authorities are investing heavily to promote sport and tourism – highlights the appalling discrepancy between the actions of the Saudi authorities and its official narrative of liberalisation.
Saudi authorities have imprisoned and even applied death sentences for tweets in favour of free speech.
Human rights defenders are mostly imprisoned and, in some cases, even disappeared.
What the draft code won’t stop
The draft code would not stop the use of the death penalty or corporal punishments such as flogging and amputation.
Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s top executioners. 196 executions in 2022 and preliminary indications have it at 172 in 2023 and the beheadings continue in 2024. NUFCFAS has highlighted the cases of minors on death row at protests.
The logic of sportswashing means the regime makes numerous false promises about ‘reform’. MBS promised to reduce the use of the death penalty for juvenile offenders and for crimes for which a death sentence is not mandated under sharia law.
However, the draft code fails to protect women and girls from all forms of gender-violence, including by conflating sexual assault with consensual sex. Neither does it recognise marital rape as a crime, and it protects perpetrators of honour crimes.
Women will still be subject to a male guardianship system that allows male relatives to exercise control over important aspects of women’s lives. NUFCFAS calls on women’s groups and movements on Tyneside to speak up on behalf of Saudi women.
Despite Saudi authorities repeating that “Everybody’s welcome”, the draft code continues to criminalise “illegitimate” consensual sexual relations and make the LGBTIQ+ community vulnerable to criminalisation. Individuals who do not conform to the dominant sexual and gender norms risk prison and prosecution. Regulations related to indecency and clothing also carry prohibitions.
It would be a marvellous gesture if the NUFC LGBT group, United with Pride, made a statement condemning these measures and showed some solidarity with the persecuted Saudi LGBT community. Such a statement would be greatly welcomed by Saudi human rights defenders and show that NUFC fans have not been completely sportswashed as many believe they have.
Need to condemn
On 3rd November 2021, Newcastle city council announced the decision to end links with its twin city in China over the country’s “horrific” human rights abuses. Council leaders severed the relationship with the city of Taiyuan, which has been twinned with Newcastle since the 1980s.
Suely now is the time for Newcastle City Council and Tyneside MPs to publicly condemn use of death penalty, torture, oppression of women and the LGBT community and suppression of basic human rights by the Saudi state which also owns Newcastle United?
Fan groups can also make good on pre-takeover commitments to ‘hold the owners’ to account regarding human rights.
At the time of the takeover two members of the Wor Flags group were quoted in the German paper DW: “If we felt that the Saudis were abusing women’s rights, we would consider a display featuring a female fan in a black and white top”.
What is to be done?
Before the end of the football season NUFCFAS is launching initiatives around the theme of ‘Support the Team – Not The Regime’. It is time we showed that we really do stand with the victims of the Saudi dictatorship.
Unfortunately, we must face some home truths about the Saudi state takeover of Newcastle United and their ongoing ownership.
Newcastle City Council publicly advocated for the Saudi-led takeover to be approved in 2021, with the then Chief Executive claiming that the deal could be “transformational” for the city.
Although the council were able to join the campaign for Saudi ownership of Newcastle United, they have had almost nothing to say on the related human rights issues which continue to cause enormous reputational damage to the city and the region.
We are urging Newcastle City Council to clearly condemn the gross human rights abuses of the Saudi regime.
We call on councillors to put forward a resolution to the council to name a street near St James’ Park in honour of “Jamal Khashoggi” or “Human Rights”.
Sportswashing forum
We are holding a NEWCASTLE HUMAN RIGHTS / SPORTSWASHING FORUM on April 26th and we invite participants who want to discuss the effect the Saudi state takeover of the club has had on press coverage of the issues and on local democracy.
Newcastle vs Sheffield United on 27 April
On Saturday, 27 April Newcastle United will play Sheffield United.
Sheffield United is owned by Saudi Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad Al Saud.
This is an opportunity for fans of both clubs to show that, although we continue to support our teams, we do not support the Saudi regime and their repressive laws, and they cannot use our club to divert attention away from their many and ongoing human rights abuses.
On 27 April we want to highlight the situation facing Saudi women, specifically the case of Saudi prisoner Salma al-Shehab. Salma, a mother of two is currently serving 27 years in prison solely for posting tweets in support of Saudi prisoners of conscience.
She was studying in Yorkshire at Leeds University and when she visited home was arrested and imprisoned. We urge Newcastle and Sheffield United fans especially to show solidarity with Salma. We also appeal to fans of all clubs to support our campaign against sportswashing and in favour of human rights.
We call on all the NUFC fanzines and social media groups to publicise the case of Salma al-Shehab to coincide with the game against Sheffield United.
We also urge WOR FLAGS to produce a #FREESALMA flag.
Finally, we ask Newcastle and Sheffield United fans to download and display #FREESALMA posters at the match in the 27th minute.
Salma is in prison for 27 years for tweeting in favour of free speech.
Let’s use our free speech to support Salma and all Saudi prisoners of conscience.
