John Barnes says Newcastle United are being made “scapegoats” after the club was taken over by the Saudis.
The former England star, 57, backed the club he played for from 1997 to 1999 against critics.
He said: “I am guided by the Government, [who are] the moral guardians of Britain.”
Referencing UK arms sales, he added: “As long as the moral guardians of this country are saying it’s okay to do business in Saudi Arabia – which we are – we have to be realistic in terms of the way the world works.
“We look for scapegoats, so the scapegoat is Newcastle.”
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Last week Amnesty International urged the Premier League to change its owners’ and directors’ test “to address human rights issues” amid the Saudi Arabian-backed takeover.
Also, John said if he was still playing he would not join players in taking the knee in an anti-racism gesture before matches.
Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, he said he believed we would still be doing it in 20 years time without it making any difference in society.
He explained: “would say I am not taking it because I want change in the inner cities.
“I want you to sort the education out and housing. But we take the knee and we don’t mention that.”
- The Uncomfortable Truth about Racism by John Barnes is published by Headline for £20.
