Empowered Female Footballers Unite in Emotional Plea: Urge FIFA to Rethink Controversial Saudi Oil Partnership
Over 100 female footballers from 24 countries are calling for FIFA to terminate its sponsorship agreement with Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil giant of Saudi Arabia. The partnership, signed in April, is set to span four years, covering significant events like the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. In a letter, the players expressed their frustration, stating that aligning with Saudi Aramco undermines progress, given Saudi Arabia’s history of human rights violations, particularly against women and the LGBTQIA+ community.
The athletes urge FIFA to reconsider this deal and seek partnerships with sponsors who uphold values of gender equality, human rights, and environmental sustainability. They also propose creating a review committee, including player representation, to evaluate the ethical considerations of future sponsorships, ensuring they align with the sport’s values.
This letter highlights ongoing concerns over FIFA’s history of controversial sponsorship decisions, like those for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. The players point out that FIFA’s decision-making body, its 37-member Council, includes only eight women, suggesting a lack of diverse perspectives especially from marginalized groups.
The letter criticizes the Saudi government’s use of sports sponsorships as a means to divert attention from its human rights abuses. Players like Becky Sauerbrunn, former captain of the US National Women’s Team, and Danish international Sofie Junge Pedersen, advocate for prioritizing human rights and sustainability over profit. They emphasize the need for FIFA to adhere to its stated values genuinely, rather than just as written words.
Through this call to action, these footballers stand in solidarity with women like Manahel al-Otaibi and Salma al-Shehab, who have been jailed by the Saudi regime for peaceful expressions of equal rights. The footballers demand that FIFA prioritize the safety and rights of women, the LGBTQ+ community, and environmental health.
Original Story https://assamtribune.com/sports/over-100-female-footballers-urge-fifa-to-reconsider-partnership-with-saudi-oil-giant-1555455
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