Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville believe Eddie Howe should follow Thomas Tuchel's example and answer difficult questions addressing Saudi Arabia's human rights record. The Newcastle United head coach has repeatedly distanced himself from media topics outside of football since his appointment in November.
However, Howe's response to journalists on Sunday on the subject of mass executions in Saudi Arabia has been heavily criticised in certain quarters. The Magpies boss insisted he will 'stick to football' and reiterated his disappointment at his side's narrow defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Carragher and Neville held a frank discussion on Monday Night Football on geopolitical issues that currently cast a shadow over a number of Premier League teams, prompted by the Government sanctions on Chelsea and owner Roman Abramovich in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Howe and Newcastle came under scrutiny, and presenter David Jones asked the Liverpool legend if it was fair for the head coach to be asked these questions.
Carragher told Sky Sports: "Yes, I think it is. I think now with the situation of how everyone sees it and are so against it, a lot of people are and understandably so.
"Thomas Tuchel, we've mentioned how well he has handled this Roman Abramovich and what is going on in Ukraine, I think he has handled it really well. The question to Eddie Howe yesterday and he said he's just there to speak about the football situation, you can feel the tone of the question is basically 'Eddie, what are you doing working for the Saudis and PIF who run this club? Are you not aware of what they do?'
"It's almost that insinuation, it's a very difficult position for him to be in. I wanted to ask you [Neville] that because when I've seen the actual question put to him and he's been criticised for his response, what would your response have been in that situation? I think he's in a difficult position there Eddie Howe."
Neville responded: "It's an extremely difficult position. I think that Thomas Tuchel over these past few weeks has been statesman-like in actually standing up, getting the balance right in the understanding between he is obviously working for the football club, but also that it's not right. He has gone up in everyone's estimations immensely, I think Jurgen Klopp does that really well at Liverpool as well when there's social issues and political issues that come into their world, they handle them with great honour.
"Thomas Tuchel has done it really well, and I think Eddie Howe is going to have to do that in the next 7-10 days or two weeks. These questions are not going away.
"In any other walk of life, we'd be very nervous about working for an organisation that had money associated with it that wasn't particularly clean, and footballers over the last 20 years have been sort of removed from that, thinking it was sport and we've got to rise above it and not accept the connection between sport and politics and sportswashing. But we've seen with the FIFA World Cup and where it's gone, we've seen with the corruption in UEFA and FIFA over a period of 10 years, we've seen now with what's happened with Russia, that sport is being scrutinised like you wouldn't believe.
"It needs independence, and it needs transparency. That's why in this moment of time if we're bringing it back to the Premier League, it's too much for the executive of the Premier League at this moment in time. These are massive global issues hitting home on our doorstep, and Eddie Howe is having to deal with those, and he's not prepared to deal with those.
"He's prepared from a media perspective, but he didn't take the job anticipating he was going to be asked about these massive political issues relating to a war or mass executions in Saudi Arabia. He is a football person, but if you're a football manager now, you're going to have to stand up and answer those questions.
"One thing is for certain, the journalists have to ask them."
We want to hear your thoughts, so LOG IN and leave your comment below
Get your free William Hill shop bet free and special Cheltenham Festival pull-out with your Chronicle every day from Tuesday to Friday this week. Follow this link for more details
