Manchester United and Newcastle United fans have issued a joint statement against 'sportswashing' ahead of a tie between the sides at St James' Park on Sunday. The two sides have called for a ban on the sale of clubs to nation states who use them as a cover for their domestic excesses.

The joint statement was issued by NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing and United Against Sportwashing. Newcastle are majority-owned by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia while Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar is currently trying to buy the Manchester club.

The joint statement said: “While NUFC play MUFC on Sunday, groups of fans from both clubs will be united in a common cause, regardless of the result on the pitch. We are Newcastle United and Manchester United fans standing together to call for an end to the sale of our historic clubs to states which use them to sportswash their human rights abuses.”