An MP has said the Saudi ownership of Newcastle United should lead to greater focus on the violence and repression of the country's government and not "sportswash" it.
Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central, was unable to be in the Chamber on Monday for the Urgent Question on the use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. However she said it's an issue which many of her constituents feel strongly about.
The 57-year-old, who has represented Newcastle Central since May 2010, has released a statement in which she has expressed her condemnation of the death penalty. She said to hold Newcastle United fans accountable for the country's human rights abuses is to "misdirect" legitimate anger.
