- Newcastle are owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)
- Fans have been encouraged to celebrate Newcastle’s Carabao Cup win in Saudi
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Newcastle United influencers have been shamelessly promoting trips to Saudi Arabia for fans to continue celebrating the club’s Carabao Cup triumph.
An estimated 300,000 supporters lined the streets of Newcastle on Saturday to party with their heroes after the Magpies ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by beating Liverpool at Wembley last month.
The team have now turned their attention to Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Brentford, but multiple influencers have encouraged fans to head over to the homeland of Newcastle’s owners – Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – to continue their celebrations.
PIF completed their controversial takeover of Newcastle in October 2021, despite concerns being raised about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
But some influencers do not appear to care, and even hinted that the Carabao Cup party could be even bigger in the Middle East than it was in Newcastle.
A YouTuber named Thogden filmed a video with his dad where he promoted Saudi Arabia, as he asked: ‘Where’s the after-party?’
A YouTuber named Thogden (pictured) plugged a Saudi trip for Newcastle fans in a video filmed with his dad
Fellow influencer Adam Pearson (pictured) also encouraged Newcastle fans to head over to the Middle East to celebrate the club’s Carabao Cup win
He later admitted that plugging Saudi trips was paying for his football holidays
His dad replied: ‘Bigg Market?’ before Thogden said: ‘No, Saudi Arabia! Just imagine Boulevard World in Riyadh, all black and white, and it’s actually easy to get there.
Thogden then insisted visas and flights could be sorted easily, and pushed a package deal that visitsaudi.com are offering.
He was not the only one on the Saudi hype train, as fellow influencer Adam Pearson also put out his own video urging fans to get over to the Middle East.
‘For those of you watching who want to continue on the after-party – get yourselves over to Saudi Arabia!’ he said.
‘Enjoy the culture, learn a lot more about the country, and, of course, get yourselves over to the Boulevard World in Riyadh. I’ve had the chance myself to be there in 2022 and for you as well it’s a chance to learn a lot more about the background of Newcastle United.
‘It’s easy to get to, there are plenty of direct flight options in the UK. Visas are available online and you can also get them on landing in Saudi Arabia.
‘What Saudi are doing now is they’re encouraging Newcastle United fans to go over there and celebrate. So they’re doing a 40 per cent off offer so you can get yourself over to Saudi. Loads of flights, loads of options out there. Celebrate in Saudi.’
After receiving backlash for his video, Pearson admitted that promoting Saudi was paying for his football holidays.
In a screenshot shared on social media, Pearson wrote: ‘Newcastle United are in Europe next season and are likely in Asia this summer for pre season, those trips have now been paid off for me.
‘I don’t like it anymore than you but that was why I did it.’
Another Newcastle TikToker filmed himself outside St James’ Park telling fans about trips to Saudi
The influencers have been condemned by a group named ‘NUFC Fans against Sportswashing’
Newcastle celebrated in front of their adoring fans on Saturday, but influencers have called for fans to continue the celebrations in Saudi
Matty Renton from The Magpie Channel also posted a video of himself outside St James’ Park as he informed fans about the chance to get themselves 40 per cent off on deals to fly over to Saudi Arabia.
Since taking control of Newcastle over thee years ago, the club’s owners have been accused of sportswashing – a term used to describe a nation, individual, group or government using sport to improve their reputation.
The X account for NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing has released a statement condemning the actions of the influencers in light of the videos circulating online.
The statement read: ‘On #NUFC YouTubers & Tiktokers plugging trips to Saudi Arabia to #NUFCFans – a sad but serious issue which shows how far the human rights abusing Saudi dictatorship which owns will go to get young people onboard with their sportswashing project.’
