It's looking very bleak for Newcastle fans in the battle against relegation from the Premier League, and to make matters worse, the club has just lost a disability discrimination case to a cult hero on Tyneside.
Jonas Gutierrez sued the club for the way he was treated when diagnosed with cancer in 2013, five years after joining the club. He also alleged that his former employers avoided playing him in the second half of the 2014/15 season so as not to trigger an appearance-based contract extension, and that in particular has further turned the fans against those who are running the club.
This afternoon it was confirmed that Gutierrez had won his case and will be compensated at a later date. Here are the details as they appear on BBC.co.uk:
Midfielder Jonas Gutierrez was dropped by Newcastle United because of his cancer diagnosis, an employment tribunal has found.
The 32-year-old was suing the Magpies for in the region of £2m on the grounds of disability discrimination.
The tribunal also ruled the club made it impossible for Gutierrez to trigger an appearance-based contract extension.
Claims of unfavourable treatment and another of harassment related to disability were dismissed.
A further remedy hearing will be held in due course, in which compensation will be addressed.
It really, really does not look good for Newcastle, and the fans rightly hit out at their club for their gross mistreatment of a very popular figure at the club.
Both Keegan & now Jonas have won in court against the vile odious cretins that run our club. Nothings changed & never will under this regime
— Tom (@TJR_NUFC) April 14, 2016
Seems that our club is a complete cesspit from top to bottom. I don't know how you guys can continue to put money into #NUFC
— Chebster (@Chebs4377) April 14, 2016
Hope Jonas takes Ashley to the cleaners like, might even wish he hadn't boosted Charnley's wages. Pair of cunts. #NUFC
— Jenky (@_Jenky88) April 14, 2016
Pleased you won your case and showed what absolute scumbags we have running our club. We all love you @elgalgojonas #Spiderman #NUFC
— Craig (@LostSoulsForEva) April 14, 2016
Actually over the moon @elgalgojonas has won his discrimination case. Now it's there for all to see how rotten #nufc is from top to bottom
— Daz Blackburn (@DazB27NUFC) April 14, 2016
Following fantastic result for Jonas Gutierrez vs NUFC, my thoughts that the club is run by a bunch of cunts is now proven by law #nufc
— Peter Ayers (@peterayersbfg) April 14, 2016
New low for that shambles of a club. Disgusting but not surprising. Regime has brought shame on the City #nufc https://t.co/S5y9CeREDg
— acpatto (@acpatto96) April 14, 2016
While Newcastle have bounced back from relegation before, you get the impression that nothing will change long term under the current regime.
With relegation looming on the pitch, and all this drama going on off of it, it's looking more like Harchester United than Newcastle United with every passing day.
