‘Jeremy Vine’ and ‘Newcastle takeover’ don’t belong in the same sentence.
But after a dramatic day on Tyneside, everyone is talking about the Newcastle United takeover.
It’s a deal that has attracted attention from across the globe, for good and bad reasons.
Toon fans are delighted at the departure of Mike Ashley, while a huge spotlight is being shone on the human rights issues in Saudi Arabia.
Channel 5 presenter Jeremy Vine has weighed in on the issue, asking Toon fans a very strange question on Twitter.
He wrote: “Are you a Newcastle fan who may switch to Sunderland as a result the Saudi takeover? If so please get in touch.”
While a lot of Newcastle fans will have reservations about Saudi involvement, Vine’s question is just ludicrous. The man clearly has no understanding of football.
I don’t think a single Newcastle fan will switch their allegiance to Sunderland after Thursday’s breaking news.
While the Magpies wear black and white, the new situation at the club is far from it.
A lot of supporters have received criticism for celebrating the takeover. But the celebrations are more about Ashley’s departure. There has also been a lot of ‘whataboutery’ thrown around in response.
Questions need to be asked about human rights in Saudi Arabia. But are they for Newcastle fans to answer?
Vine’s question is just stupid and, as many fans have pointed out, proves he knows nothing about the game.