Soccer in Saudi Arabia has entered a brand new period — the period of getting world superstars play on Saudi turf.
The 31-year-old Brazilian soccer star Neymar simply turned the newest addition to the now star-studded Professional League, which additionally consists of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are among the many hottest gamers on the earth,” mentioned Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy within the U.S., in an interview with CNBC. “That is what we’re doing by bringing family names like that to the Saudi league. We’re elevating the extent of play.”
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Funding Fund, is the monetary automobile driving these high-priced transactions. Saudi Arabia’s de facto chief, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chairs the PIF board.
In June, the PIF took over the nation’s 4 main home golf equipment: Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli.
“Saudi Professional League is the highest males’s skilled soccer league in Saudi Arabia.” mentioned Stefan Szymanski, professor of sport administration on the College of Michigan. “So, like most international locations, they’ve a nationwide league that’s well-liked, and folks comply with. And what’s occurring right here is that the federal government, by way of the funding fund, is channeling cash into the golf equipment in order that they will purchase gamers.”
Saudi Arabia’s love for soccer is just not restricted to the home league. In 2021, the PIF purchased a majority stake within the English soccer membership Newcastle United. Critics argue that Saudi Arabia is utilizing sports activities to distract from human rights abuses within the nation, a time period generally known as “sportswashing.” The Saudi authorities is infamous for its crackdown on dissent and harsh punishments for criminals, together with executions.
“Sportswashing is actually synonymous with attempting to cleanse picture and status,” mentioned Simon Chadwick, professor of sport and geopolitical financial system on the Skema Enterprise Faculty. “And clearly, Saudi Arabia is a rustic that, over latest a long time, has had a specific status. Typically not a superb one. In some circumstances, very unfavourable.”
In response to criticisms of sportswashing, Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy within the U.S., advised CNBC: “Each single measure that’s going down in Saudi Arabia, each reform measure, each initiative, and each program that’s presently being carried out in Saudi Arabia is being carried out for one in every of two main causes. It’s both being carried out to advance the pursuits of Saudi Arabia as a rustic or to enhance the lives of Saudi individuals, or each. So each different consideration is a distant second.”
Watch the video above to search out out why Saudi Arabia is doubling down its funding in skilled soccer and extra.