Every decent picture tells a story, but the best ones reveal several – so the photo taken in Newcastle United’s jubilant dressing room team on Wednesday night might rank as a modern work of art.

A practice that was either seen as a harmless bit of fun, or mocked for celebrating mediocrity, became something else on Wednesday, particularly for those who struggle to see the positives in Newcastle’s revival given the identity of the club’s new Saudi owners.

Sportswashing, the fairness of clubs being funded by a sovereign wealth arm, and the Saudis’ terrible human rights record are all highlighted as reasons for the Public Investment Fund (PIF) to be drummed out of English football.

So imagine the reaction to the image which depicted Newcastle’s owners joining in Wednesday’s celebratory team photo – indeed, not just joining in, but standing front and centre after the narrow victory over Crystal Palace.

No matter that it was the first time Saudi chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan – and chief decision maker – had seen the team win live, that this was the first time he has been at St James’ Park, or visited the players in the dressing room afterwards, since a humiliating 1-0 defeat to League One Cambridge United in the FA Cup in January: his presence offended those who wished to be offended by it. 

The club’s co-owners, Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben were also there, plus Staveley’s husband Merhdad Ghodoussi, to mark a sixth successive home win that took the club to 40 points. All of which was fuel to those who were seeking reasons to be outraged.