It’s not all in black & white

STRADDLING the glory of Newcastle United’s demolition of Paris Saint-germain this week, there were some jarring anniversaries.

This weekend marks two years since the Saudi state Public Investment Fund took over the club with Amanda Staveley and the Reuben brothers.

Wednesday also marked the fifth anniversary of the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey.

Money, investment and Champions League wins quieten the noise around Saudi’s violations, including the Khashoggi murder.

Remember, the US intelligence services say the killing was authorised by Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman, who is Chairman of the PIF, a claim Salman denies, but accepts Saudi operatives carried out the gruesome killing.

Indeed, only three weeks ago US Senator Richard Blumenthal pointed to PIF’S ownership of a company whose jets were later used to transport the killers of Khashoggi from Saudi Arabia to Turkey.

Newcastle fans, who roared their team to victory with an intensity rarely seen inside a football ground, are pawns in a geopolitical Saudi game to secure approval.

With wins like the PSG epic, critics melt away. And when Saudis throw around cash to European clubs for players to bolster their domestic league, memories get even hazier.

Everyone tries to forget any murky deeds… after all, the World Cup is also likely to be awarded to Saudi in 2034, meaning 11 years of cash flowing to FIFA projects.

I sense most Toon punters just want to support their club, enjoy the progress and at best remain vaguely aware of the issues.

The club is winning again. It is on the up. Ultimately there may also be a payback in terms of jobs and rising incomes in the region if the Saudis invest in new industries up here.

Newcastle’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is complicated. Riddled with compromise and realpolitik. Black and white, but not black and white.