Banners can’t hide Saudi abuse
NEWCASTLE UNITED have been told their fans’ banners in support of the Rainbow Laces campaign must not be used to ‘try to quell the debate’ about their ownership by Saudi Arabia.
Two huge rainbow banners stretched behind one of the goals at St James’ Park yesterday during their first victory of the season against Burnley.
‘Things aren’t always black and white,’ read one while the other declared: ‘United as one against prejudice’.
Newcastle’s official Twitter account posted a picture of the two banners under the caption of a rainbow flag emoji and the words: ‘United as One’.
‘If it’s supporters groups working together then I applaud their allyship,’ said one member of another Premier League club’s LGBT+ fan group. ‘Yesterday was never going to be easy for United with Pride [Newcastle’s LGBT+ fan group]. I just hope the banners are not a gesture by the club to try to quell the debate about the Saudi connection.’
Newcastle’s commitment to the Rainbow Laces campaign has left many LGBT+ groups feeling uncomfortable following the club’s takeover by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Homosexuality is illegal in Saudi with gay men and women facing the death penalty, while a young gay man remains imprisoned in the kingdom for posting a picture on social media of himself with his shirt off.
Opposition fans have continued to take part in the #FreeSuhail campaign at Newcastle games this season as part of the protests against the club’s ownership and human rights abuses in the Gulf state.
The banners at St James’ Park were organised by Wor Flags in conjunction with United with Pride to show support to the club’s stance on Rainbow Laces and to commend them for their own support of Josh Cavallo, the Australian footballer who came out as gay in October.
‘Over the past week we have seen the club take part in the Rainbow Laces campaign and, before that, we were glad to see them voice their support for Josh Cavallo,’ Wor Flags said last night.
They added that the banners were ‘a message of support to the club for their participation in these campaigns, a statement of solidarity with Josh and any other players who may be afraid to be their true selves, and a message to all LGBTQ+ fans that we will do our part to ensure St James’ Park is a safe and welcoming place for everyone.’
Stonewall, the charity behind Rainbow Laces, had encouraged Newcastle to be a part of the campaign but also urged for it not to be an example of ‘rainbow-washing’.
‘What’s important is that they move the conversation forward, not brush the situation under the carpet,’ Stonewall director of programmes Liz Ward recently told The Mail on Sunday.