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Football

24th Sep 2018

Geordie boxer ordered to remove Newcastle badge from his clothes

The #AshleyOut campaign has moved to other sports

Darragh Murphy

Lewis Ritson has been a loyal supporter of Newcastle United his whole life.

The undefeated lightweight, who hails from Forest Hall in North Tyneside, has always made a point of representing his favourite club on his fight gear but that’s about to change.

Ritson will fight for the vacant European lightweight title next month but he was understandably left disappointed when Newcastle reportedly got in touch to tell him to stop stitching the famous Magpies badge on his clothing.

The 25-year-old took to Twitter on Monday morning to complain that Newcastle had instructed him to take the badge off his gear, except for television appearances.

https://twitter.com/lewis_ritson/status/1044144862839414784

“Disappointed in NUFC, been in touch with my manager telling them a need to take all logos off merchandise/clothes,” Ritson wrote.

“But happy for me to wear the logo when I’m live on TV.

“A team I’ve supported all my life and held a season ticket for seven years when younger.

“Mike Ashley out!”

https://twitter.com/lewis_ritson/status/1044197762353500166

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley’s popularity among supporters continues to plummet and Ritson laid the blame at Ashley’s doorstep after claiming that he has made no financial gain from sporting the club badge.

Ashley is currently trying to sell the club and was recently called out by former manager Kevin Keegan for Newcastle’s decision to turn down the chance to sign Luka Modric in 2008.