Newcastle secured an impressive 4-1 victory against Chelsea, but the team’s owners faced criticism from fans for their comments on the crowd. Co-owners Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Ruben received backlash after suggesting that the fans should “match the intensity” of the players.
Ghodoussi, the managing partner and husband of Amanda Staveley, expressed on social media the need for louder support in the stadium, stating, “We need to be louder, we need to be the 12th man.” Ruben echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the necessity to match the players’ intensity with fan support.
Some supporters took offense, suggesting that the owners should experience the games alongside the fans rather than making judgments from the directors’ box. Additionally, there were concerns about ticket prices reaching up to £200 on resale websites, and fans called for improvements in the ticketing system.
Last week, Chief Executive Darren Eales hinted at the possibility of a “new St James’ Park” as part of a planning process to explore ideas for increasing capacity, given the rising demand for tickets over the past 18 months. Despite some agreement that the pre-match atmosphere was subdued, fans criticized the owners for their comments and decisions, with one fan urging them to “listen to your fans” and another highlighting issues with queues before the game. Some also called for a review of ticketing practices to ensure local fans have fair access to tickets.