Newcastle boss Eddie Howe educating himself over situation in Saudi Arabia

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has been criticised for declining to answer questions over the club’s Saudi Arabian backers (Mike Egerton/PA)

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has revealed he is educating himself over the situation in Saudi Arabia after being criticised for refusing to be dragged into football’s ongoing geopolitical debate.

Howe found himself thrust into the spotlight at the weekend as the situation surrounding Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and the sanctions imposed on him in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine widened to include the 80 per cent stake Saudi Arabia’s Pubic Investment Fund holds in the Magpies after the Gulf state executed 81 people last week.