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Palace fans damn the Premier League's ownership test with anti-Saudi banner

POLICE are investigating a banner unveiled by Crystal Palace fans ahead of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle.

The graphic banner was held up by supporters in the Holmesdale End at Selhurst Park highlighting the human rights issues in Saudi Arabia and criticising the Premier League’s owners’ and directors’ test.

It comes after the Premier League gave the go-ahead for a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to take control of Newcastle earlier this month.

Croydon-based Metropolitan Police tweeted: “On Saturday October 23, police received a report of an offensive banner displayed by Crystal Palace fans.

“Officers are assessing the information and carrying out enquiries. Any allegations of racist abuse will be taken very seriously.”

Palace fan group the Holmesdale Fanatics issued a statement not long after the banner had been unveiled before the match with Newcastle got under way.

“The Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle has rightly received widespread condemnation and anger,” it read.

“To give the thumbs-up to this deal at a time when the Premier League is promoting the women’s game and inclusive initiatives such as rainbow armbands shows the total hypocrisy at play and demonstrates the league’s soulless agenda where profits trump all.”

The banner showed a tick list of terrorism, beheadings, civil rights abuses, murder, censorship and persecution under the heading “Premier League owners’ test.” Next to it stood a man in Arab-style clothing holding a bloodied sword.

The Holmesdale Fanatics were not the only Palace fans group to protest against the Newcastle takeover on Saturday.

Proud and Palace, the club’s official lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender supporters’ group, posted a video on its Twitter account that highlighted the case of Suhail al-Jameel, a gay man reportedly imprisoned in Saudi Arabia.

A spokeswoman for the group said: “We want to pick up the baton started by our counterparts at Spurs, LGBT group Proud Lilywhites, by raising awareness of Suhail al-Jameel.”

She added: “We don’t believe these owners have a place in the Premier League and we want to keep raising awareness.”

The Premier League has been approached for a comment.

Further muddying the line on what is deemed acceptable and to whom, Newcastle have performed a U-turn telling fans that they will not be discouraged from wearing Arab-style clothing at matches after all, in an apparent bid to please all of the people, all of the time.

After some supporters wore robes and headdresses for last weekend’s Premier League defeat at Tottenham, the Magpies put out a statement asking fans to refrain from such “tributes.”

But in a further statement issued just after kick-off on Saturday, the club said: “The new owners have been overwhelmed by the welcome of the local community, following the acquisition of the club two weeks ago. The fans who have celebrated by wearing culturally traditional clothing, including head coverings, have been part of that welcome.

“Those who wish to support the club by wearing appropriate culturally inspired clothing should feel free to do so as they see fit. We are inclusive to all.

“To reiterate what we said previously, neither the club nor its new owners were offended by attire worn, and appreciate the overt statements of support and acceptance by our great fans.

“Newcastle United FC and its new owners continue to support the Premier League’s initiatives on diversity and inclusion, including No Room for Racism.”

So that’s all right then.

Read Gene Sylvester’s match report online at mstar.link/palacetoon.

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