Rubics
Bin VAR!
Now if Salah went on the last day of the window that would be funny
Saudi Arabian Sportswashing Shenanigans
- Thread starter Project Zeus
- Start date
Oh look.
Sooner than we thought.
Any Time Now
Jack Armstrong
Feels like we're inevitably heading towards a version of the 'super league' concept that originally stirred up outrage. Only this time it'll be the Saudis and their dirty money pulling the strings and not a consortium of Real, Juve and Barcelona. The Saudis will take the slower less in your face approach which people will likely end up tolerating as opposed to the previous brute force attempt
I give it 10 years at an absolute maximum until football as we know it is a thing of the past
I give it 10 years at an absolute maximum until football as we know it is a thing of the past
Otis Redding
Try A Little Tenderness
Let's face it, UEFA pandering to Saudi Arabia's threat to its power is probably inevitable given that SA is determined to become the dominant destination in world football in terms of attracting global TV audiences, with eight clubs paying whatever it takes to attract elite talent from Europe to play in the f***ing desert in soulless stadiums in front of choreographed, passionless spectators. Giving that country wild card access into the Champions League in 2025 will be letting the genie out of the bottle.
Redemption
One less gobshite...
UEFA destined to kill itself for the petro-dollar. Zeitgeisty.
Gyros Peter
Sauce salad?
Depressing but probably accurate thought.
Schadenfreude, as we say in Germany.
Huxley
John Robertson
There was more of this product on Italian tv and from the bit I caught, it looked like when you watch a park game on a Sunday morning and there’s one or two older players who look like they had trials once upon a time. The rest of them look like they can’t wait for the half time fag.
Professor Wolfgang Schnell BSc. PhD.
Fulchester United
I wasn't that bothered about watching this, but your description makes it sound like a must see.
Maybe not for the right reasons, mind you...
Maybe not for the right reasons, mind you...
YellowBelly Red
Viv Anderson
I see that the Saudi national team have two friendlies at Newcastle, in the September international break.
Bet there will be a few twitchy bums in the Press room on those days!!
Bet there will be a few twitchy bums in the Press room on those days!!
A principled journalist would identify themselves as "Jamal Khashoggi" and get on with the question and wait to see what happens
Captain Sinister
Senior doom Monger
Confirmation that Sauds, like the leopard, cannot change their spots:
Hundreds of migrants killed by Saudi border guards - report
Migrants tell the BBC they were shot on the Saudi border as a new report alleges "mass killings".
www.bbc.co.uk
Wes' Organ
Biggles
Yeah but Neymar..Confirmation that Sauds, like the leopard, cannot change their spots:
Hundreds of migrants killed by Saudi border guards - report
Migrants tell the BBC they were shot on the Saudi border as a new report alleges "mass killings".www.bbc.co.uk
sammy the snake
Jack Armstrong
Well.
Accommodating sports washing is becoming the norm. Newcastle supporters very quickly celebrated this like they’d won the lottery… so would we..
If UEFA instigate proposals for S Arabia to have a European place (Like Israel) this is where it gets interesting. There’s absolutely zero chance of any of the SA clubs ever meeting any FFP rules and the others will quite rightly ensure they’re no longer subject.. so you’ll get a super league by default.
Accommodating sports washing is becoming the norm. Newcastle supporters very quickly celebrated this like they’d won the lottery… so would we..
Funnily enough, I was on the tram home from the office yesterday evening and a guy got on with two kids in tow, both of whom were decked-out head-to-toe in the kit of whichever Saudi team Ronaldo has signed for (I recognised the kits, plus the giveaway was both shirts had „Ronaldo 7“ on the back).
So, it begins…
So, it begins…
Malwood
Geoff Thomas
The top four Saudi clubs are all owned by the PIF, like Newcastle. But, weirdly, the club that Steven Gerrard manages aren't and therefore are presumably doomed to midtable obscurity.
Rzar
Bob McKinlay
I think the others got taken over by Saudi backed businesses. But there is still some that had no investment.
Redemption
One less gobshite...
The other Saudi Club's do have access to money though.
4 other clubs were bought by state companies like Aramco, the state oil company.
Other club's like Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq are owned by the Ministry of Sport and can access a fund for development purposes.
Rzar
Bob McKinlay
Yeah - Saudi getting a European place would actually be a good thing as they’d have to abide by UEFA’s FFP rules. It would be stupid though.
I do still think people are over egging the pudding with the end is near comments though. Something often goes belly up in projects like this, and the product actually has to be good for the league ever to be successful - and that would basically mean the removal of almost all Saudi players which will never happen. The reason the PL is so popular compared to every other league is that the product is far superior.
valspoodle
Steve Chettle
The reason the Prem is successful is also due to the fact that it's run by the British. We might be the world's joker, but in a world fast spinning out of control by corruption, we're as free of that as any.
Bonfy177
LTLF MORON
Jordan Henderson has made a total balls up of his latest interview about moving to Saudi ……Jordan when you’re in a hole lad…
Rzar
Bob McKinlay
It shows the delusion & arrogance of the man that he thought he could talk his way out of being a complete walking contradiction.
Morpeth
John Robertson
I half believed him until he explained the actual reason he went was to help grow a league and not because of the rather hefty untaxed salary.
Harvey
Chrissy Cohen
Just like Eurovision with Australia in it!
YellowBelly Red
Viv Anderson
Just keep what he normally earnt at Liverpool, and donate the rest to Liverpool charities.
No, of course he won't.
And Southgate still has time for this hypocritical knobber!