Newcastle tell fans to STOP wearing ‘culturally inappropriate’ Saudi Arabia ‘fancy dress’ at matches ‘if they wouldn’t normally’ after dozens donned home-made keffiyehs to pay tribute to new owners
- Newcastle supporters have been donning home-made head-dresses recently
- The gesture is a misguided celebration of the club’s new Saudi-led ownership
- Club have now urged fans to stop wearing the ‘traditional Arabic clothing’
- Anti-racism group Kick It Out want Newcastle to educate fans on the issue
Newcastle United have asked fans celebrating the club’s Saudi-backed takeover not to wear Arab-style clothing for matches in case it causes offence to others.
Dozens of supporters donned home-made head-dresses for the Public Investment Fund’s first game in charge against Tottenham at St James Park on Sunday, creating a spectacle that dismayed anti-racism group Kick It Out and influential FA figures.
And now the Tyneside club themselves have urged fans to not don the home-made keffiyehs for future games.
A club statement said: ‘Newcastle United is kindly asking supporters to refrain from wearing traditional Arabic clothing or Middle East-inspired head coverings at matches if they would not ordinarily wear such attire.
‘A number of supporters have recently attended St. James’ Park wearing associated head coverings and robes, marking the takeover of the club by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media.
Newcastle ask fans not to wear Arab-style clothing for matches in case it causes offence
‘No-one among the new ownership group was in any way offended by the attire of the fans who chose to celebrate in this way. It was a gesture that was acknowledged as positive and welcoming in its intent.
‘However, there remains the possibility that dressing this way is culturally inappropriate and risks causing offence to…
Source : dailymail
