WHY Newcastle fans embraced Saudi Arabia

Newcastle United fans were desperate for a new owner after years of frustration under Mike Ashley. Newcastle's plight, combined with the region's socio-economic struggles, presented a ripe opportunity for Saudi Arabia to take over. One of the world's richest and most autocratic states, renowned for human rights abuses, are now firmly implanted in English football. Here's how they managed it.

We talk to fans, experts and journalists to give you the real story why NUFC fans embraced Saudi Arabia. Tell us what you think in the comments...

Report: Janek Speight
Editing: Joe Wright

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[mktf]

Please do an episode on American owners in PL = Glazers/Liverpool/Kronke.

[Delboy]

Two words why Newcastle fans embraced Saudi owners… Mike Ashley. Widely regarded as one of the worst owners in Premier League history. Rather than club get sponsorship to increase the money in the club to get better players, he basically made all the club sponsors his own companies and for free, so Newcastle were promoting his business globally for free when they could have been getting money for sponsors and he basically used Newcastle as a business saving account where he took the profits of the club and was never really interest in making the team better or competitive with the potential to win trophies and was happy to finish 17th every year and collect the Premier League TV money. This infuriated Newcastle fans because they couldn’t accept this exploitation of their club and lack of ambition. So when the Saudis came saying they wanted to win and would spend, that was enough for them.

[nnn]

I just have one question, why when they in video mention foreign owners don’t even mention the American owner of Manchester United or owner of Liverpool ?

[badrnaji]

مجدك لقدام و امجادك ورى .. و ان حكى فيك حسادك ترى

ما درينا بهرج حسادك ابد 🎵🎶

[doodlez]

because they want success bang done saved you time, still nearly 60 years 0 trophy crazy drought

[mktf]

New govt bill in UK gives fans greater say/power/authority in our clubs/PL.

[Soulfood]

The Premier League already lost the soul, the real fan culture and the atmosphere. All they have left now is money from rich owners who treat clubs like their toys. So, congrats on becoming the world's biggest plastic league.

[horusksa]

As a Saudi, I never realized that this deal brought happiness to the people, damn it who cutting onions? 😡

[Redbull]

To all Newcastle fans out human rights issues in Saudi is great these hypocrites have an agenda obviously

[ahmadarahman]

NUFC belongs to them Geordies, not the Saudis

[keithbell]

Meanwhile the world buys oil and gas from ... guess who?

[moviesfree]

The German media attacks on KSA & UAE is still on 😂😂😂 Dear DW team please take a break, you must’ve been tired after all these years of attacks and 0 results 😢😅

[mohassharahl]

🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦😎😂 As a Saudi, I watch this report as if I were watching a bad comedy, and I laugh hard at the amount of extreme stupidity

[daz]

Tell the outsiders are clueless our owners are at every game home and away and Amanda and Mehrdad even attend the women matches

[pablpesantes]

Real Madrid was the first sportwashing club in football history

[chrisdodds]

The Germans talking about human rights is hilarious...🤫😉

[nickfury]

It is the reality of a falling apart UK economy. It needs money and rescue from overseas.

They will approve a deal if one day West Ham United is sold to North Korea.

[moedhirar]

Europeans having a moral compass all of a sudden.. 😂 Go on you Geordies, enjoy this and can't wait to see you win the Prem

[TeddyPicker]

So cringe. Newcastle and man city fans are spineless

[Real_SkyRipper]

People are so pathetic, no matter how evil you are all you need is buy a club or give them some food and they will forget about all the things you did.