Yahoo Sports FIFA Saudi oil deal has ‘no place’ sponsoring women’s football, say 106 players
More than 100 professional female footballers have signed an open letter to FIFA, urging the governing body to reconsider its recent sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabian oil and gas giant Aramco.
In April, FIFA announced a four-year sponsorship deal which positions Aramco as a partner of major tournaments, including the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The 106 players to sign the letter hail from 24 different countries and have highlighted the humanitarian and environmental implications of the partnership in their statement.
‘A middle finger to women’s football’
In their scathing letter addressed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the players say that the Aramco partnership ‘has set them so far back that it’s hard to fully take in’. The letter opens by describing the deal as ‘a middle finger to women’s football’.
“Saudi authorities have been spending billions in sports sponsorship to try and distract from the regime’s brutal human rights reputation, but its treatment of women speaks for itself,” it read. “A corporation that bears glaring responsibility for the climate crisis, owned by a state that criminalises LGBTQ+ individuals and systemically oppressed women, has no place sponsoring our beautiful game.”
High profile signatories include Canada skipper Jessie Flemming, former USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn, and England defender Niamh Charles. You can find the full letter and list of signatories here.
A misaligned FIFA sponsor decision
Speaking to the BBC, letter signatory Vivianne Miedema said: “I think as footballers, and especially as women’s footballers, we carry the responsibility to show the world and the next generation what is right. I think this sponsorship is not right for what FIFA stands for, but also what we as women footballers stand for.
“FIFA always shout that they want the game to be inclusive, and they want the game to lead by example. Well, if so, then make sure that you align with sponsorships that are leading by example.”
Void of any reference to the issues highlighted, FIFA pointed to the investment in the women’s game made possible by commercial sponsorships such as the one with Aramco.
Why is the Aramco deal controversial?
Aramco is the world’s largest state-owned oil and gas company. The firm has long fuelled climate change, with more than four percent of the world’s historic carbon emissions being attributed to its operations. It has recently faced U.N. scrutiny over environmental and humanitarian concerns.
Though the company has previously pledged to be ‘net zero’ by 2050, Aramco’s own annual reports state aims to ‘maintain its position as the world’s largest crude oil company by production volume’ and ‘expand gas activities’. Amongst major oil and gas companies, it has the weakest climate targets.
Aramco is 98.5 percent Saudi Arabia owned. The state has a long track record of human rights violations, including against women and LGTBQ+ people. The players’ open letter names six women imprisoned for peacefully expressing their views.
