Newcastle to fans: Keep your Arab-style clothing at home
Newcastle United have asked supporters to refrain from wearing mock headdresses following the club’s takeover by a Saudi-backed consortium.
Some fans wore traditional robes and others headdresses for Sunday’s Premier League game with Tottenham, the Magpies’ first under their new owners.
The fans’ actions are seen as a misguided show of support towards the new owners.
Newcastle said that while their owners took no offence by the fans’ attire, it could be considered stereotypical and culturally offensive.
The Premier League club, who sacked manager Steve Bruce on Wednesday, said in a statement: “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.
“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 others.
“All visitors to the club are, as always, encouraged to wear whatever is the norm for their own culture or religion, continuing to reflect the broad and rich multicultural communities and groups from which the club proudly draws its support.
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Kick It Out had planned urgent talks with Newcastle and was keen to offer workshops to fans in the north east to explain why wearing mock headdresses could be viewed as offensive.
PIF governor Yassir Al-Rumayyan – who has been appointed Newcastle vice-chairman and part-owners Amanda Staveley and her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi were present for Sunday’s game, which their new side lost 3-2.