A new Report reveals how economic austerity and deindustrialization in Manchester and Newcastle made them attractive to Arab buyers for football clubs. The report highlights the phenomenon of sportswashing, where countries or groups use sports to enhance their reputation. Local politicians in both cities were accused of remaining silent on the human rights records of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The report also details how the British government facilitated the takeovers and highlights the lack of scrutiny from local media outlets. The report warns that state ownership of football clubs carries the worst human rights record.

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