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NEWCASTLE campaigners and fans unveiled a huge banner at Tuesday night’s match against Manchester United to shame club owner billionaire Mike Ashley, head of scandal-ridden firm Sports Direct.
As tens of thousands of football fans looked on they displayed the 48x6-foot banner bearing the words “Sports Direct Shame”
Retailer Sports Direct is notorious for its shocking treatment of staff.
It has been exposed effectively paying below the statutory minimum wage, employing staff on exploitative zero-hours contracts, and even subjecting staff to searches as they leave work.
A nationwide campaign is gaining strength against Sport Direct, and Tuesday night’s protest at St James’ Park was part of it.
The protest involved Newcastle United fans, members of union Unite Community and some who were both.
The banner was smuggled into the ground by Northern Unite Community organiser Joan Coan.
“The atmosphere as we unfurled the banner was fantastic,” Coan told the Morning Star.
“Everybody was chanting: ‘Ashley out!’ which speaks for itself.”
The anger of fans and trade unionists has been further stoked by the club’s sponsorship by loan shark Wonga, whose logo is on the players’ shirts.
“They’re not happy that the stadium is covered in Sports Direct stuff, but they’re also angry at Wonga’s association with the club,” said Coan.
“Some fans have boycotted the club because of all this. There was a concerted boycott when Newcastle played Tottenham Hotspur recently and the crowd was something over 30,000, rather than the 50,000 expected.”
The campaign continues.
