Newcastle United are facing a major backlash after a leaked image of their new away kit appeared to show the team playing in the colours of Saudi Arabia. The club is owned by PIF, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, but both the club and the Premier League have previously argued there are limited links between the country and the team.
The leaked kit, manufactured by Castore, features a white shirt with Saudi green trim, with both the Castore and Newcastle logos also in Saudi green. The design bears a striking resemblance to the Saudi national team shirt, prompting an uproar among fans and observers.
Supporters have been vocal in their criticism. One Newcastle fan said: 'I hate this. I just can’t get on board with integrating Saudi into our brand and identity.' Another added: 'Just because we are owned by them doesn't mean we should look like them.' A third fumed: 'It is unashamedly blatant in spelling out how much of a vehicle our club is for the sportwashing of KSA.'
The Premier League was heavily criticised for allowing the Saudi-led takeover, with Amnesty International repeatedly slamming the decision. Amnesty UK’s CEO Sacha Deshmukh said at the time of the deal: 'Under Mohammed bin Salman, the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia remains dire... Instead of allowing those implicated in serious human rights violations to walk into English football simply because they have deep pockets, we’ve urged the Premier League to change their owners’ and directors’ test to address human rights issues.'
