SIMON JORDAN: We must stop selling our sporting soul to the Saudis, I don’t like the sense that everything in this country is there solely to be bought
- I found it a tad perplexing to sit in our own Wembley stadium on Saturday night and listen to the national anthem of Saudi Arabia
I've never had and never will have any problem with different countries adding to the fabric of world sport, or creating their own sporting development and opportunities .
I don't think we have the zeitgeist or right to not allow others to be at the top table and enhance themselves and neither are we in in a position to lecture, we have our own issues.
The Saudi dignitary Turki Alalshikh is perhaps entitled to invest for whatever reason in boxing, football or anything else on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia .
I do, however, hold great belief and value in this country too. With that sense of national pride I found it a tad perplexing to sit in our own Wembley stadium on Saturday night and listen to the national anthem of Saudi Arabia.
This doesn't make me a little Englander, there was no obvious reason for it. There weren't any Saudi Arabian fighters in action. Yes, the funder and ultimate promoter of the event was Saudi but I can't imagine any fight being put on in Riyadh or Jeddah and our anthem being played for a promoter. National Anthems are for sports participants.
The Wembley showdown between Anthony Joshua (left) and Daniel Dubois (right) was the latest offering in 'Riyadh Season' - and the second fight night outside of the Kingdom
Ahead of playing the British national anthem for both of the fighters, the Saudi anthem took centre stage
Turki Alalshikh has invested vast resources into turning Saudi Arabia into a boxing powerhouse
We are allowing our institutions to be bought and more often those who benefit from it, in this instance the big fight managers and promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn, sit there justifying it because it lines their pockets.
I half-expected Frank and Eddie to be dressed in the traditional Saudi thawbs such is the deference.
Little doubt they will try to diminish my argument as coming from a 'hater' but I don't like the sense that everything and everyone in this country is there solely to be bought.
Though I consider myself a capitalist, I find it a little bit distasteful that we seem so willing to give away our national soul for the right price.
I turned up to our most iconic sporting arena in the country, recognisable around the globe and the seat of our national game, to watch two British heavyweights Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua, and it felt like downtown Riyadh.
It was cultural appropriation in reverse, bowing and scraping to a dignitary that represents the money.
I worry in general for the central values in this country, we seem to stand for nothing and operate our society with either a two-tier approach or an outlook of appeasement that I believe has caused a lot of trouble. So, I have to be honest about my own emotions on fight night, billed as Riyadh Season Card: Wembley edition. I was sitting there thinking 'this doesn't feel right'.
Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have been instrumental in bringing big-name fights to Saudi
We learned later that a leading journalist had been denied access to the fight because he writes about what he believes is Saudi sports-washing. Even if I don't fully agree with all his views, it undermines our heritage of free speech, in our own country!
I've been on the receiving end of Saudi censorship myself and may well find myself again after this article. TalkSport weren't allowed to cover events over there because I had the temerity to be part of a conversation to suggest the atmosphere at their fights wasn't as great at this stage as in the traditional capitals of world boxing, which by the way it wasn't!
Now of course having a seat at the aforementioned top table brings both praise and criticism whether you like it culturally, or not.
Their PR person turned round and complained I was a xenophobe. Xenophobia of course has nothing to do with a fair observation. I was only saying what was factually correct.
If that same PR genius came up with the suggestion that the Saudi National Anthem got played on Saturday night then I am not sure what to say about that. Maybe the boos around the stadium when it was played spoke volumes.
If we take the Saudi money, or anyone's money, of course they'll expect certain things in return and I don't blame them for trying to perhaps rebrand themselves around the world,. It doesn't offend me.
My main despair is saved for how readily we are prepared to give up all that we have in return.
Boos rang around a stuffed-to-the-gills Wembley, which should give the organisers an opinion on their choice of first anthem
Everything we invent as a country seems to be taken over and enhanced by others. Sport is becoming no different, as we see with the Premier League becoming dominated by foreign ownership.
I've always been clear not to preach to other cultures on how they should and shouldn't behave. I took that stance on holding the World Cup in Qatar even if we found their belief systems and such things as the illegality of homosexuality different to ours.
But likewise we, and they, should respect our history and culture. There have to be certain things that are sacrosanct.
The Saudi national anthem should not have been pre-eminent at a sporting event at Wembley, even for 'Riyadh Season'. It was a step too far.
Newbies must adapt or falter in top flight's new era
Promoted sides Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton have played 15 games between them this season, and won none.
If it continues there will be a wider debate about the Premier League becoming a closed shop after Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United went straight back down last season.
I'm not so sure. My strongly held view is that the promoted teams have to do something to help themselves above anything else.
I don't see the point of them trying to play a brand of football the top sides can do for lunch. The business of the Premier League for newboys is staying in the Premier League so why turn up against Liverpool and Manchester City in a style that suits them more than you.
Southampton manager Russell Martin has admitted that his side are too easy to play against
Burnley suffered miserably in the Premier League last season after a barnstorming season in the Championship
Burnley paid the price last season and there is no nobility in Saints manager Russell Martin sniping at criticism that his team have been too easy to play against.
His philosophy should be simple – three points. At the moment, the way his team plays to the opponents' strengths is like a 12th and 13th man for them. He has to adapt.
Arsenal's 'dark arts' tactics were smart - and dealing with them should be City's problem
To follow the boxing theme, the brilliant Lennox Lewis used appropriate tactics relevant to overcome the opponent in front of him . The public didn't immediately warm to him after the bloodthirsty Mike Tyson era but Lennox's mastery of tactics, ringcraft and science made him hugely successful.
So, although I don't like agreeing with the hugely biased Martin Keown, I do concur that Arsenal did what they felt necessary to get a vital point at Manchester City on Sunday, despite the disadvantage of being a man down for 56 minutes – which was their fault!
Mikel Arteta's 'dark arts' tactics helped Arsenal secure a vital point on the road - and almost snatch all three
Nobody likes to see players rolling around claiming injury but it's up to the referee to police that properly. Equally, it was up to City to find a way to break down a stubborn defence.
Arsenal did what they could and what they could get away with. They are unbeaten in their last three games against City and the next clash is at their place. They are showing a resolve and steel that suggest there really might be an end to the City monopoly this season, which is a good thing in my book.
