The release of the Newcastle United third kit has been met with plenty of controversy. The white and green colouring strikingly resembles the kit Saudi Arabia will be wearing at the World Cup at the end of this year which has raised a lot of questions.
Accusations of sports washing have never been far away since the takeover of the club was completed last year and many people continue to be cynical of the reason behind it. Understandably, plenty of Magpies supporters have been supportive of the club’s kit decision but others have questioned whether it was necessary to release a kit so similar to that of the Saudi Arabia national team.
Speaking on BBC 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast, Kevin Campbell defended fans and claimed that flaring tempers should be calmed due to the third kit being far less important than the home or away kits. He said: “It’s always the fans who get hit, isn’t it? It’s very difficult for them to take at times but one thing I will say about this is that it’s the third kit, what would Newcastle rather: would they rather be under the same regime of Mike Ashley or be under the new regime?
READ MORE: Newcastle United kit debate rages as fans react to 'naughty' new third strip
“You’d rather be under the new regime to see the club moving forward and, if it took having a third kit like that to maybe appease what’s going on in Riyadh, then you do it. It’s not your home kit, it’s not your away kit, it’s your third kit and maybe you might play in it a couple of times.
“Yeah, it does feel a bit uncomfortable but I don’t want to be negative about Newcastle because I really think things are happening at St James’ Park, I really do. Something like this could upset the balance.
“To let a kit unsettle them [the fans], I don’t think it’s fair. Is it crass? Yes, it is crass. But, if that’s what you need sometimes to be able to move the club forward, I’m sure every Newcastle fan would’ve taken it under the last regime.”
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