The crisis at Newcastle United reaches the U.K. Parliament

Chi Onwurah has echoed the concerns and displeasure of Newcastle United supporters to the House of Commons.

As a Member of Parliament, Chi Onwurah has presented the House of Commons with a petition that outlines the concerns of her constituents from Newcastle upon Tyne. The tension between Newcastle United supporters and Mike Ashley has gone from bad to worse. The fact that the current crisis on Tyneside had to reach the U.K. Parliament shows just how toxic the environment around the club has become.

With Rafa Benitez at the helm, Newcastle are finally in position to experience a positive transformation to elevate their status as a club in the Premier League. The problem, however, lies in the greedy interests of Mike Ashley who refuses to provide Benitez with sufficient funds to strengthen the roster.

Inactivity during transfer windows severely hurts a club, but supporters are now accusing Ashley of fiscal exploitation. In her petition for the House of Commons, Chi Onwurah made the following statements:

"Football is an integral part of Newcastle upon Tyne’s social, economic and cultural well-being…Many of my constituents are heavily invested in the club and they want a voice to speak to their concerns and fears about the current ownership, and the need to invest in the club."

Potential Impact

A few days ago, our site shined light on a new movement known as “If Rafa Goes We Go.” It seems as though this social media campaign has gone well beyond the boundaries of Twitter as their concerns have reached the halls of Westminster.

With the full support of Ms. Onwurah in London, Newcastle supporters are hopeful that Mike Ashley will cave into the pressure of supporting the club he owns. Ashley is used to criticism and protests from supporters, but this Parliamentary petition against him is something new.

This Parliamentary petition will either be hit or miss for Newcastle United. It remains to be seen what further action will be taken as a result of this petition, but Ashley will certainly feel the pressure now. His reputation is already a mess as he is recognized as the worst club owner in the Premier League, but his struggling company, Sports Direct, could take an even bigger hit now.