The ties between Newcastle United and Saudi Arabia are clearly getting stronger. On top of sponsoring the club and making the third kit green, Saudi Arabia have played their friendly games at St James' Park pretty much because they can.
As some Newcastle fans and city dwellers gathered to protest against Saudi ahead of the game against Costa Rica, some other Newcastle fans wore the green kit, approached the protesters with their arguments and then entered the stadium to cheer on the Saudi Arabia national team.
Quite a few voices on social media were left stunned by how some Newcastle fans have fully absorbed the club's new owners as they wrote.
@AnnieEaves: "Geordie kids draped in Saudi flags, wearing Saudi themed Newcastle United shirts, going to watch Saudi Arabia at St James’ Park, arguing outside to defend the Saudi state.
"Amazing how quickly a football club and surrounding community can be swallowed up, conditioned, and used."
@HITCSevens: "Me, wearing my Saudi themed Newcastle shirt, on my way to cheer on Saudi Arabia at St James’ Park with my shiny new ‘I ❤️ MBS’ hat on: Something about this feels wrong… I know what it is, it’s those damn protestors!"
@burns_euan: "It's all so bleak, children draped in Saudi Arabia flags. Remember though, there's no link between the state and Newcastle, it's just a coincidence that Saudi Arabia 1-3 Costa Rica was played at St. James' Park."
@gamray: "Hang on, Newcastle fans actually went to watch a Saudi Arabia friendly at St James Park? How empty does your life have to be to do that?"
