February 9 – Two-time World Cup winner Alex Morgan is the latest figure to speak out against the proposed Saudi sponsorship of this summer’s tournament, urging FIFA to scrap the plan.
Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have already written to FIFA seeking clarification following reports that Visit Saudi will be named as a major sponsor of the tournament.
And Morgan has now added her voice to the controversy by urging FIFA to “do the right thing” and abandon the idea.
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist, likely to be one of the biggest names to feature in the Women’s World Cup that kicks off on July 20, is uncomfortable with the players being associated with a country which heavily restricts the rights of women.
“I think it’s bizarre that FIFA has looked to have a Visit Saudi sponsorship for the Women’s World Cup, when I, myself, Alex Morgan, would not even be accepted and supported in that country,” Morgan said.
“I just don’t understand it. I think that what Saudi Arabia can do is put an effort into their women’s team that was only formed a couple of years ago. I really hope that FIFA does the right thing. I mean, pretty much everyone has spoken out against that, because morally, it just doesn’t make sense.”
The United States Soccer Federation has also released a statement promising to “voice our concerns”.
FIFA is yet to publicly address the sponsorship and Football Australia chief executive James Johnson was quoted as saying locally that the federation remains totally in the dark.
“We’re unhappy that we weren’t involved in any consultative process that seems to have led to this decision,” said Jameson.
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