As the Newcastle United players celebrated, and their fans let out 70 years of anguish, PIF chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan smiled down benevolently from the royal box. Jamie Reuben, the club’s minority owner, occasionally hugged him or slapped him on the back. It had been noted by other executives present how they didn’t quickly head down to the pitch. This was for the team, and the supporters. The fans were the obvious focus, the feel-good story… meaning the more complicated story of the ownership was barely dwelt upon.
You couldn’t have a clearer illustration of how sportswashing worked, even if you have to know where to look.
