October 22 – More than 100 internationals in the women’s game are calling on FIFA to reconsider allowing Saudi Arabian oil company Saudi Aramco to be a sponsor.
In an open letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the 106 players describe Aramco’s involvement as a “middle finger to women’s soccer” in terms of human rights.
In the letter, the players write: “This sponsorship is much worse than an own goal for football: FIFA might as well pour oil on the pitch and set it alight.”
The letter details how women’s football globally is posting record attendances and viewing figures, including nearly two million tickets sold to the Women’s World Cup in Australia last year.
“But FIFA’s announcement of Saudi Aramco as its ‘major’ partner has set us so far back that it’s hard to fully take in,” the letter states.
“Saudi authorities have been spending billions in sports sponsorship to try to distract from the regime’s brutal human rights reputation, but its treatment of women speaks for itself.”
The letter emphasises that gay players, “many of whom are heroes of our sport,” are particularly at risk of persecution in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is considered a crime.
The players also raise concerns about the oil company’s environmental impact. Saudi Aramco is the largest oil producer in the world. It is 98.5% owned by Saudi Arabia.
FIFA’s deal with Saudi Aramco, announced in April, runs until 2027 and includes sponsorship of both the men and women’s World Cups in 2026 and 2027.
Inter Milan’s Danish international Sofie Junge Pedersen, one of the architects of the letter, was quoted as saying “We would like FIFA to replace Saudi Aramco with other sponsors whose values align more with gender equality, human rights and a safe planet for everyone.”
“We think that it’s quite absurd that we, as female football players, are asked to promote on our shirt, Saudi Aramco as a sponsor. The human rights violation there, the discrimination against women that the Saudi authorities stand for. It’s just absurd and very shocking for me that we are asked to do that when these are not our values and also not FIFA’s own values.”
In response to the letter, FIFA said it stands by the sponsorship.
“FIFA values its partnership with Aramco and its many other commercial and rights partners,” the world governing body said.
“Sponsorship revenues generated by FIFA are reinvested back into the game at all levels and investment in women’s football continues to increase.”
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