Pitch Battle - Saudi Sportswashing and Newcastle United

Pitch Battle - Saudi Sportswashing and Newcastle United

Author: Adrian Goldberg's Talk Show September 8, 2023 Duration: 27:53
  On the weekend that this podcast is released, Saudi Arabia will be playing two international football matches at Newcastle United’s St James Park, against Costa Rica and South Korea - but the results won’t really matter, and not just because the games are friendlies.   Critics say that whatever the final scores, the despotic regime of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) will already have won, simply by virtue of being allowed to host such prestigious games at a venerated English football stadium.   The Saudi Public Investment Fund bought Newcastle in 2021, which many observers regarded as a classic case of "sportswashing"; a regime notorious for human rights abuses seeking to create a more positive image for itself. The staging of these friendlies is being seen as another step towards the 'normalisation' of a state renowned for its human rights abuses.   Ahead of the Saudi friendlies, Adrian Goldberg travelled to St James Park to meet John Hird, a lifelong Newcastle United fan and founder of NUFC Against Sportswashing, and Lina Al Hathloul, from Saudi human rights organisation ALQST.  Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White.   Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times.   Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.

Adrian Goldberg's Talk Show is exactly that: a series of conversations driven by the host's curiosity about the people and forces shaping our world. This podcast sits at the intersection of society and culture, exploring the stories behind the headlines and the ideas that often go unexamined. Adrian brings his journalistic background to each discussion, creating a space where guests-from thinkers and writers to everyday people with extraordinary experiences-can speak in depth. The tone is engaging and thoughtful, more like a compelling chat in a quiet pub than a formal interview. You'll hear explorations of politics, community shifts, artistic movements, and the subtle ways our lives are changing. It’s a show built on the premise that good talk can illuminate the bigger picture, one conversation at a time. Listeners find themselves drawn into dialogues that are both timely and timeless, where the focus is on understanding rather than spectacle. Tune in for a podcast that values substance and genuine exchange, where the title truly is the promise.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Adrian Goldberg's Talk Show
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