FORMER Sir Bob Murray, chairman of Sunderland, has slammed the Premier League for allowing the Saudi ownership of Newcastle United.
Newcastle is owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), and St James’ Park recently hosted two friendly matches starring the Saudi national team.
The Premier League approved the PIF takeover on Tyneside despite strong criticism from groups such as Amnesty International, which has campaigned against the Saudi state’s appalling human rights record, and Murray, who was chairman of Sunderland for 20 years before selling to Niall Quinn and the Drumaville consortium in 2006, is disappointed with what he sees at St James’ Park.
Murray told the Daily Mirror: “Kids are running around in Newcastle’s Saudi away strip – the colors of a state that routinely violates human rights.”
“The Stadium of Light hosted the Lionesses last week, and we sold out.” We recently had Saudi Arabia play South Korea and Costa Rica at another club. I know which stadium I’d prefer to be at.
“I don’t see Newcastle’s ownership changing for 1,000 years.” Football should not be utilized to improve a country’s standing. There is a chance of injury. It will not end here. I don’t think that should have been allowed to happen, either for the supporters or the city, but it was.”
He has reflected on his time as Sunderland chairman, including the ups and downs of the Black Cats’ rivalry with Newcastle during his tenure at Roker Park and afterwards the Stadium of Light.
“We had no relationship between Newcastle and Sunderland when the Halls and Freddy Shepherd were there,” he claimed. On match day, we spotted them, but there was no decorum.
“Mike Ashley was content to crush Newcastle.” With a club of that size, he was demoted twice. When you have a bad owner, it usually falls to another bad owner, like in this case with (Ellis) Short.
“Sir Bobby (Robson) would come over all the time to keep an eye on us.” (Former chairman) Tom Cowie offered him the Sunderland position. Kevin Keegan completed the Great North Run wearing a black-and-white and red-and-white striped shirt. He was the epitome of a gentleman.”
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