Newcastle’s Ciaran Clark ended up getting himself sent off for PUNCHING a player during his side’s friendly out in Saudi Arabia.
The game, which was played in front of Saudi dignitaries as well as Her Majesty’s Ambassador Neil Crompton, the defender was given marching order after striking Al-Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, who was also dismissed following a tangle.
The incident will no doubt have left head coach Eddie Howe reeling, who earlier spoke of the success of the week-long training camp.
Red card for Ciaran Clark. Be surprised if you see him in a black and white shirt again #NUFC pic.twitter.com/q4Mv7MAOr0
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) January 28, 2022
The Magpies won the game, 2-1, at the King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah with Allan Saint-Maximin and Ryan Fraser getting on the scoresheet.
Pictures shared following the friendly showed Clark had reconciled with Hamdallah, and the duo exchanged shirts and posed for photos.
Twitter users reacted as Newcastle’s Ciaran Clark gets sent off for punching a player during the friendly in Saudi Arabia and some wanted him never to play for the club again…
@tuc76049437: Hope I never see him play for us again
@jat_0027: I still don’t get why he hit him. What’s he playing at?
@Darrenboyb: In a friendly match as well. A game that was supposed to show the team off to our new owners. He should be sold as soon as possible as he is a liability
@agbnufc_: This is giving some strong ‘do this for PR’ vibes.
@Luxfordinho: Last thing he ever does for us hopefully
@Hickeyd29Hickey: Ciaran Clark should never play for the toon again, what he did yesterday was beyond embarrassing. Punching an opponent in what was essentially a friendly. Mate sort your fucking head out, don’t ever embarrass our fucking club like that again bro.
@Luxfordinho: Embarrassing the owners like that. No chance he ever plays again
@ConnorNUFC_: This is the most Ciaran Clark thing ever, it’s a friendly man ffs. Used to rate Clark a lot at one point but he’s past it now. Good to see them make up after the game, but come on
@tomjolly_: Love all the positivity around NUFC after the Leeds win and hopefully a few transfers incoming. But, Ciaran Clark can’t be anywhere near our first team for the run in. He’s been a good servant of the club and we thank him but he really needs to go, THIS MONTH. Jeff Hendrick also.
@Furbz_85: Ciaran Clark red carded for a punch during friendly in Saudia Arabia. Not much of a tackle from the other player and not much of a punch looking at this.. either way stupid thing to do and don’t reckon he’ll be in a NUFC match day squad anytime soon. Silly boy.
They made up
💛🖤🤍🙏 #NUFC #نيوكاسل #الاتحاد_نيوكاسل pic.twitter.com/gnGoWkdLM1— Saudi Gazza نيوكاسل مع وليد Alwaleed (@Alwaleed_Saudi) January 28, 2022
@NUFC_LEW: He wont play for us again so
@FredBojangles1: How many times do we have to say “it could be the last time we see him in B&W.” Red card in a friendly in the owner’s back yard is the most blatant “I want out” message I’ve ever seen. Get rid now. And he will have to take a pay cut to go. If he tries any of that “pay half my wages” bullshit stick him in the u23 squad until his contract’s up summer of next season. He won’t be able to get a league 2 side to sign him by then.
@KierenW6: Get rid of him man bloke should of been gone after what he did against Norwich
@keezascott: Representing Newcastle in your owners country for their people to see who we are, totally disrespectful towards our city,our owners and the people of that country! Get rid!
@noelthejoker180: Na he’s done and he knows it
@stu_blues7: How embarrassing, on warm weather training in the country of our owners, also a big PR game & the idiot does that. He should be sent home on another flight from the rest of the team, fined, suspended & transferred out asap.
@n3wcast1e: He needs to go
@Callum_Conner: Just leave him there please…
@_best_smart: Feels like he expected to be better than his opponents and realized he wasn’t and got angry about it. Leave him there like home alone, says this observer
@Nicholson_420: He was probably more upset about getting rugby tackled to the ground there, genius
@Stuart_Roxburgh: Definitely an unusual way to hand in a transfer request 🤷🤷🤦🤦
@Fletch042: He got us up from the Champ and did his part keeping us in the prem since (well so far..). Probs time he moved on but got to appreciate what he’s done over his toon career.
Speaking earlier from the team hotel, Howe had said that he was sure that the ‘huge ambition’ of the Saudi owners would become reality after meeting chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and members of the Public Investment Fund.
It’s been rather quiet on the Saudi contingent front – who own an 80-per-cent stake – since completing their takeover in October.
But Al-Rumayyan this week addressed Howe, co-owner Amanda Staveley and the squad during a social occasion as part of their stay in the country.
‘There is huge ambition at the club,’ said Howe, whose January spending is expected to top £70million with the arrival of Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon.
‘Through time, those (ambitions) will become reality, I’m sure – in terms of everything that is in the eyes and minds of the people around the club.
‘But the reality now is to get the best out of the team in the short-term, the long-term will take care of itself. I have to be careful that my mindset is day-to-day, minute-to-minute.’
Howe referred to the fact his team remains one point from safety having won just twice all season.
He maintains confidence that the controversial decision to visit the Gulf state for the first time as a group wouldn’t distract from the physical and bonding benefits of the trip.
Putting daily training sessions aside, the team has spent time riding dune buggies, go-karting, getting pictures with Hollywood actor Gerard Butler – who was filming nearby – and dancing in the desert while wearing traditional Saudi headdress.
Howe, Staveley and several players also watched Saudi Arabia’s 1-0 win over Oman on Thursday night.
There was a meeting with Al-Rumayyan and PIF, which feels like a significant signpost for the future of the club.
‘I have met with the chairman and it was a great experience to hear his thoughts on the club, his vision and how the future looks,’ said Howe.
‘A lot of people from PIF have been here and it’s been a very good experience to bring everyone closer together. We were all very impressed with what was said and how it was said. I’m sure the players left very enthused and ready to work.
‘It (talk to players) was more a motivational and inspirational talk based on the shorter term, the collective team spirt and aims that we have between now and the end of the season. It was just a nice way for us all to spend a bit of time together and get to know each other better.’
Howe was pressed on the criticism on Newcastle’s Saudi Arabia visit amid concerns over the country’s human-rights record, replying: ‘I am doing things from a football perspective. I’m trying to improve the team, to stimulate them mentally in a different environment. I want them to forge the new friendships that we will need in our battle to stay in the league.’
Howe has been kept in his hotel room after training sessions, working on bringing in some transfers ahead of deadline day.
The £33m deal for Guimaraes could surpass £40m with add-ons and, while Howe still wants to bring in Dan Burn with interest remaining on Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard, he knows just how difficult it’s been this month.
‘From my perspective, I don’t imagine that (Guimaraes) will be the end,’ he said. ‘Whether that turns to reality, who knows. It can be unpredictable. But we’re hoping and working hard to improve the squad.
‘The frustration is more with the window, not the people behind the scenes. I see how hard they are working.
‘But I am looking forward to Tuesday (day after deadline). I like to coach. It will be nice to know that this is the group we have – and I would back us to get the job (survival) done.’
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