Newcastle MPs have been urged to stop accepting hospitality and gifts from Newcastle United amid concerns it has softened their criticism of the club’s Saudi owners.
Dame Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central and West, was a vociferous critic of the Saudi regime before in recent years taking tickets and hospitality from the club.
In 2018, she described Saudi Arabia as a “murderous state” in a Commons debate on the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. In 2022, she stood in the Commons wearing Newcastle colours to call the execution of 81 people in Saudi Arabia an “atrocious, horrific massacre”.
When the national team scheduled friendlies at St James’ Park in 2023, Onwurah said “we must not forget that Saudi Arabia” continues “to have one of the most atrocious human rights records in the world”.
The criticism does appear, however, to have waned since 2024, during which time Onwurah has received almost £5,000 worth of freebies from the club.
In November 2024, she and her partner were given a hospitality package for Newcastle United Women’s match against Southampton. She and a guest were also invited to the Carabao Cup victory celebrations, valued at £850 per person, in 2025. Weeks later, she and a staff member were given tickets worth £250 each to a Sam Fender gig at St James’ Park.
“MPs shouldn’t be taking freebies from the club,” said John Hird, founder of campaign group NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing. “What’s happening with Manchester City should concern Newcastle fans. Newcastle fans are living in a bubble.”
Dame Onwurah told City AM she has continued to raise Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. She pointed to two questions submitted to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2025 and her recent statement on the fifth anniversary of the takeover.
While that statement included a one-sentence reference to her concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, it focused largely on praising the owners’ investment in the club’s success.
“I remain deeply concerned by the human rights record of Saudi Arabia which does not reflect the values of our city and I continue to raise this in Parliament,” she said.
“Newcastle United fans do not get to choose the owners of the club, but the club remains an important investor in the city, a contributor to the city’s economy and a beloved cultural and social asset – Newcastle is united in its support for the Toon.
“Since the takeover I have continued to raise issues around Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, most recently this very month, but also in 2025 and 2023 as raised with me by constituents.
“Over those five years I have accepted hospitality to promote St James as a destination, women’s football, and our team’s success on the pitch, which has been fully declared.”
Horse races to finish early for football
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has decided to bring forward the finish times of a series of floodlit race meetings next year to avoid clashes with Premier League and Champions League football, following a successful trial earlier this year.
Only evening races that coincide with high-profile matches on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be affected, at 18 meets in total. The BHA responded after receiving feedback suggesting that ending the meets prior to football kick-offs, rather than at 8.30pm, would be beneficial.
The BHA seeks to spread out its schedule to give punters betting opportunities throughout the day, but has found that interest declined once major football matches started. Initially, the scheduling restrictions will apply to meetings in January, February and March.
Arsenal fans floored in Lille game
Perhaps Emirates Stadium does require upgrading after all. Arsenal fans were left sitting on the floor and in a stairwell during the club’s Champions League win against Lille after an entire row of seats collapsed.
Technicians were quickly summoned and spent part of the match repairing the damaged section with screwdrivers while play continued.
The incident came just weeks after Arsenal told a supporters’ meeting that plans to redevelop the stadium and expand capacity to 61,000 had been shelved. As first revealed in this column, Arsenal had enlisted architects Populous to explore expansion options but ultimately decided against large-scale works and will instead improve hospitality offerings.
The Emirates, which opened in 2006, is particularly difficult to expand because of its compact urban location. Significant redevelopment would likely have required the club to relocate to another stadium, with Wembley considered. But manager Mikel Arteta did not want disruption after leading Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Abramovich aide back at Stamford Bridge
Another unexpected sight at a Premier League ground: Marina Granovskaia has been back at Stamford Bridge.
Granovskaia was one of former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s closest associates and served as a Chelsea director from 2014 to 2022, leaving after the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover.
During her near-decade as a director, Chelsea made secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties, which eventually landed the club a £10m fine and suspended transfer ban in March following a Football Association investigation, after being self-reported by the club’s new ownership.
Granovskaia attended Chelsea’s 5-1 win against Bournemouth just days before a BBC Panorama documentary exposed Deloitte’s role in hiding Abramovich’s wealth. It is not believed to be the first time Granovskaia has been back at Stamford Bridge, but she does not attend often.
Baller League heads to TV studio
Baller League has left its home at the Copper Box Arena – to play in a film studio in Dagenham.
The fast-paced, celebrity-driven six-a-side competition has attracted crowds of up to 7,500 fans since its 2025 launch in the UK but matches in its fourth season will be played at Eastbrook Studios.
Sky has decided not to renew its contract to broadcast games but it appears as though organisers are still prioritising viewers at home and online after moving away from Stratford.
Baller League is backed by influencer KSI, who recently acquired a stake in National League South side Dagenham and Redbridge, and has featured high-profile figures including Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Idris Elba.