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A leading Saudi Arabian human rights activist says Newcastle are being used as a “tool” to legitimise Mohammed bin Salman’s regime and urged supporters not to underestimate the power of protest. Members of the NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing group are set to stage a demonstration outside St James’s Park on Friday night, prior to the first of two international friendlies set to be staged by the Saudis at the venue this month. Lina al-Hathloul, whose sister Loujain was imprisoned and tortured after leading a campaign to allow women to drive in her homeland, was on Tyneside this week to stress that shows of dissent can still have a significant impact on the actions of the regime. More than two years after Newcastle’s controversial takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the small minority of dissenters among the club’s fan-base is refusing to give up hope of pricking the consciences of enough fellow supporters to make an impression. Speaking at a public meeting close to the stadium, Hathloul said: “They (the Saudi regime) really think that they’ve bought everyone’s silence, but you should not underestimate the power one word can have. “We’re still in a phase where image is important for the Saudi regime. That’s why they do as much as they can to cover up the (human rights) violations. We're not asking you to choose to love your club or to speak up - both can work together. You can be happy about Newcastle winning and still criticise what is happening in Saudi Lina al-Hathloul “We’re not asking you to choose to love your club or to speak up – both can work together. You can be happy about Newcastle winning and still criticise what is happening in Saudi.” Saudi Arabia’s two friendlies, against Costa Rica on Friday and South Korea four days later, are widely regarded as further proof of the regime’s links to the takeover, despite “legally binding assurances” given to the Premier League in 2021 that it had no such influence. Al-Hathloul called the Saudi claim a “lie”, adding: “I love my national team, and for me it’s always difficult to dissociate the regime and what I love about my country. “[But] when has the Saudi national team played abroad in a friendly? It is very rare, and now it really is a coincidence that they are playing in Newcastle. “So we see the Saudi government is using Newcastle as a tool now to push their agenda.” Loujain al-Hathloul was released in February 2021 after spending 1,001 days in jail under counter-terrorism laws. Al-Hathloul and her family continue to live under restrictions that prevent them leaving the country. Newcastle have been contacted for a response. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Dan Cole ready for ‘dangerous’ Argentina in England’s World Cup opener Manchester United taking abuse allegations made against Antony ‘seriously’ Bukayo Saka keen to improve after winning England men’s player of the year again

NFL Week 1 picks and predictions for all 16 games on the slate with the Chiefs on upset alert, the Packers still owning the Bears, and more.

A new fund to support players with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases has been created by the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Premier League. A fund has been in the works to support affected players and their families ever since PFA chief executive Maheta Molango met with campaigners Dawn Astle and Rachel Walden early in his tenure in 2021. Further meetings followed with the Premier League, the Football Association and the EFL. At this point, only the PFA and the Premier League are involved in the fund, which has an initial £1million available for distribution to families. Molango insists this should be “a football-wide responsibility” and the ultimate goal is that the fund be replaced in the longer term by a charity backed by all the four key stakeholders in English football. The FA is involved in funding a number of research projects aimed at understanding why there is a heightened risk of neurodegenerative disease among footballers, something identified by the 2019 FIELD Study. However, the fund is designed to tackle the immediate needs of players already living with dementia. Molango said: “This is an important step forward in the way football provides practical support to former players who develop dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions. “It’s an issue where, in all areas, we continue to believe there needs to be a football-wide responsibility. “That includes providing access to financial support for former players and the families who most need it. “The Premier League deserves credit for the proactive way in which it has approached these discussions. Obviously, we hope that other stakeholders in the game will choose to contribute to the fund going forward. This is an important step forward in the way football provides practical support to former players who develop dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions PFA chief executive Maheta Molango “There is much that still needs to be done, but this is a positive development which will provide help to former players and their families, and which demonstrates how football has to work together on this issue.” Former professionals who have been members of the PFA, and their families, will be able to make applications for financial support which will be assessed by an independent, expert panel. The PFA will proactively approach ex-players and their families it is in contact with who it believes would benefit from the support to explain to them how to make an application. The union’s brain health unit will also act as a point of contact for former professionals and their families who come forward looking for support or advice. Dawn Astle’s involvement has been pivotal to the creation of the fund. Her father Jeff Astle, a former West Brom and England forward, died in 2002 aged 59 with early-onset dementia. A coroner recorded the cause of death as industrial disease, owing to the repeated heading of a ball. She was once a vocal critic of the PFA under its former chief executive Gordon Taylor over what she perceived to be a lack of support offered to her family and others, but joined the union’s former player care department in early 2022. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the welfare and care of players “has always been a priority” for his organisation and added: “We feel it is important to offer our support to this newly-established brain health fund. “The fund builds on our long-standing partnership with the PFA and strengthens our collective support for former players facing health challenges.” An FA spokesperson said: “We welcome the new Brain Health Fund, which will provide valuable support for former professional footballers. “We will continue to work across the game with stakeholders to provide research, education, awareness and support on brain health. As the governing body of English football, we continue to focus on research into brain health through multiple ground-breaking programmes, such as the Advanced Brain Clinic and BrainHOPE, to help gain a greater understanding of this area through objective, robust and thorough research.” The EFL is involved in discussions with other football stakeholders to establish a charitable vehicle as a longer-term provider for support. The league is also working through a pan-football brain health action plan to understand, protect and support both current and former players regarding brain health and head injuries.

Newcastle are not looking to let Jamal Lascelles leave the club this month.

Chris Eubank Jr’s coach has been charged following his arrest at Manchester Airport on Sunday, when a gun was found in his suitcase. Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, who guided Eubank Jr to a stoppage win over Liam Smith on Saturday, was detained by armed police after a scan of his checked-in luggage revealed the presence of a firearm and ammunition. The American, 53, was due to fly from Manchester – where Eubank Jr beat Smith at the AO Arena – to Atlanta in the United States. A statement from Greater Manchester Police on Monday read: “At around 10.45 am on Sunday 3 September 2023, officers were called to reports of a possible firearm being found in hold luggage by airport staff at Manchester Airport. After initial inspection by security staff, GMP officers attended, and the firearm was seized. Subsequently, a man has been arrested for possession of a firearm and remains in custody for further questioning.” A follow-up statement on Tuesday read: “Brian McIntyre (01/07/1970) from the United States of America was charged with possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate. “McIntyre attended Stockport Magistrates court this morning where he was further remanded into custody. He is next due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, 9 October 2023.” Greater Manchester Police confirmed to The Independent that McIntyre will remain in custody until that date, when a plea will be entered. Eubank Jr’s win against Smith, which came eight months after the latter beat Eubank Jr via TKO, marked McIntyre’s first time teaming with the Brighton middleweight. Former boxer McIntyre also coaches Terence Crawford, who is seen by many as the No 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. The unbeaten Crawford produced a masterclass against Errol Spence Jr in July, handing his fellow American his first professional loss to become undisputed welterweight champion. The southpaws are expected to clash again later this year or early next year, after Spence Jr triggered a rematch clause last week. Read More Chris Eubank Jr banishes demons by stopping Liam Smith to cap off slick showing Chris Eubank Jr salvages career on night of sweetest revenge Punch stats highlight Chris Eubank Jr’s dominance in Liam Smith rematch

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton bucked the trend by apologising after an incident in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, insisting the rest of the F1 grid “complains and moans to try and not get a penalty.” Hamilton admitted he was at fault for a collision with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at Monza – he received a five-second time penalty as a result – and apologised to the Australian after the race. Wolff, who stated that Max Verstappen’s 10th win in a row was “completely irrelevant”, concurred with Hamilton’s analysis and made a sharp dig at the rest of the field in the process. “Lewis is very sportsmanlike with these things – and he is the only one that I see out there admitting, saying that he’s wrong,” Wolff told media after the race. “We just had a chat and he said ‘I didn’t see him on the right and that is on me’. And I think that kind of sportsmanship is what you need to admire with him. “Pretty much everyone else is complaining and moaning just to try to not get a penalty. “These things happen. It was hard racing to overtake here and we’ve seen a few of these. It [the penalty] was justified.” Ultimately, the penalty had no impact on Hamilton who finished sixth, while the clash cost Piastri a top-10 finish after he had to pit for a new front nose, dropping him down the order. He finished 12th. Hamilton said: “I misjudged the gap I had with Piastri right at the end. It was totally my fault. “I apologised to him straight afterwards and we move on.” Piastri, though disappointed with the race-impacting clash, seemed satisfied with Hamilton’s apology. “He creeped over a bit more than he thought,” Piastri said. “The stewards gave their verdict and Lewis apologised and nothing more I can ask for or do at that point.” Hamilton’s team-mate, George Russell, finished fifth in an indifferent weekend for Mercedes in Monza after the pair signed new contracts until the end of the 2025 season. Read More FIA reveal results of 2022 F1 cost cap process Toto Wolff blunt in response to Max Verstappen’s ‘irrelevant’ record Alex Albon, James Vowles and the start of a Williams renaissance FIA announce results of 2022 F1 cost cap process F1 2023 race schedule: When is the Singapore Grand Prix? Damon Hill unimpressed by Toto Wolff’s dismissal of Max Verstappen’s record win

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