More than a hundred players ask FIFA to end a sponsorship with Saudi Arabia

A total of 106 footballers, from 24 different countries, have asked FIFA to break its sponsorship agreement with the Saudi oil company Aramco. As explained The Countrythe large group of players has sent a letter to the governing body of world football to undo this million-dollar connection with a country, Saudi Arabia, where the rights of women and the LGTBIQ+ community are not respected.

“Saudi authorities have spent billions on sports sponsorships to try to divert attention from the regime’s brutal reputation on human rights, but its treatment of women speaks for itself,” the text denounces a “global agreement” with a “major global partner” until 2027.

“Saudi Arabia spent billions to divert attention from human rights, but its treatment of women speaks for itself.”

Letter from the players to FIFA

The Persian Gulf country will host the 2034 men’s World Cup and the state oil company will be a sponsor of the 2026 World Cup event in addition to the 2027 women’s world tournament, which they call “a punch in the stomach of women’s football.”

Among the signatories are the Spanish Maitane López, who plays for NJ/NY Gotham, and the Finnish Sanni Franssi, from Real Sociedad, as well as Jessie Fleming, captain of Canada, Sofie Junge Pedersen, player of Inter Milan, or Becky Sauerbrunn, former United States captain and Portland Thorns player who has won two World Cups (2015 and 2019) and one Olympic Games (2012).

Among the signatories, there is the Spanish Maitane López or the Finnish Sanni Franssi, from Real Sociedad, as well as Jessie Fleming or Becky Sauerbrunn

The players also denounce that Aramco contributes to climate change. “A company that has an obvious responsibility in the climate crisis and that is owned by a State that criminalizes LGTBIQ+ people and that systematically oppresses women has no right to sponsor our beautiful sport. “We want all residents of Saudi Arabia, including women and girls, to have access to and enjoy sport,” the letter continues.

The body chaired by Gianni Inafntino has responded, according to The Countrydefending the agreement and highlighting that the money received from sponsorship, which could be around 90 million annually, serves to improve women’s football, also in Saudi Arabia. “We value our sponsorship with Aramco. “FIFA is an inclusive organization with many other commercial partners that also finance other sports,” says a spokesperson.