Supporters divided after Sunderland announce friendly…

Supporters divided after Sunderland announce friendly against Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab FC

Sunderland supporters are divided after the club announced a friendly against Saudi Professional League side Al-Shabab FC. The Black Cats will take on the Saudi Professional League table toppers as part of their week-long warm weather training camp in Dubai later this month.

The friendly will be played on Friday, 25 November at Jebel Ali Centre of Excellence, with kick-off at 1pm (GMT). The Wearsiders will then return to Championship action on 3 December, hosting Millwall at the Stadium of Light.

However, some supporters are unhappy with the club's dealings with the Saudi Arabian side, after speaking out against the country's poor human rights record after their takeover of fierce rivals Newcastle United. Red and white supporters have been vocal online about the involvement of the Saudi Public Investment Fund at St. James' Park and sportswashing.

Some see the friendly against Al-Shabab as playing a part in that sportwashing, while others are are happy to focus on the football.

Here's what Sunderland supporters had to say on social media:

@Capt_Fishpaste said: "Don’t want my football club to have anything at all to do with Saudi Arabia. Even the thought of a friendly with them is utterly abhorrent. Please do the right thing."

@Stevo_safc tweeted: "Don't agree with it at all, surely there is another European team out there at the same time. Tone deaf from the club."

@TheBlood_Monkey said: "It's only a friendly but that's still relevant. It's normalising the behaviour. Someone said the club were formed in the 70s before "sportwashing", but the SA national team were playing in the 50s so that doesn't "wash", that and sportwashing has been around centuries."

@hmmsafc tweeted: "It’s a football team, not the state or a political party. Let’s not get our knickers in a twist."

@ScottMarsden90 said: "Never thought this was a problem at all until it was brought up, its a friendly to keep up our fitness levels, we could go anywhere in the world and someone would have a problem. Play the game, move on."

@alkabir46e said: "Doesn’t bother me at all. It’s a football match, it’s a friendly- there’s lots more things to worry about."

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Supporters divided after Sunderland announce friendly against Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab FC

Here's what Sunderland supporters had to say on social media:

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