Australia and New Zealand rebel against Saudi Arabia as a sponsor

Posted by: 02/02/2023 – 11:42

Host countries Women’s World Cup 2023Australia and New Zealand requested an emergency meeting at FIFA on Thursday 2 February to discuss the presence of the Saudi Arabian tourism office among the tournament’s sponsors.

This is an article published on Tuesday Guardian This sparked a spat between the co-organizers and FIFA. According to the British newspaper, Visit will formalize its sponsorship of the tournament in the coming days despite the Saudi kingdom’s dismal record. On Women’s Rights.

“Shock and Disappointment”

Football Federation Australia and New Zealand officials said they had not been informed of the proposed deal and “have jointly written to FIFA to urgently clarify the situation”.

In a statement, Football Australia said it was “extremely disappointed” that “this matter was not consulted before the decision was made”.

His colleagues in New Zealand said they were “shocked and disappointed” that FIFA had not consulted them.

The proposed sponsorship deal has drawn heavy criticism: former Australian international Kathryn Gill said FIFA “has an obligation to respect all internationally recognized human rights and must exert its considerable influence when they are not respected or protected”.

“The aim of the players is to perform FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 A true force for good and they will continue to hold FIFA accountable when they undermine it,” Australian Professional Footballers’ Association co-president Kathryn Gill said.

Nikita White, an Australian campaigner for Amnesty International, wondered how the Saudi tourism organization could sponsor the Women’s World Cup when “a woman in Saudi Arabia cannot even work without the permission of her male guardian”.

He pointed to Saudi Arabia’s “appalling record of human rights abuses”.

“The sponsorship of the Women’s World Cup by the Saudi authorities will be a textbook case of sportsbook laundering,” he said.

Diplomatic offensive through play

After Gulf neighbor Qatar hosted the FIFA Men’s World Cup last year, Saudi Arabia has also been spending heavily on football to boost its image, such as the Golden Trophy recruitment of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo by Al-Nasr Club.

>> Read More: Cristiano Ronaldo is the bridge to Saudi Arabia’s mad sporting ambitions

The host country for the 2027 Asian Cup was confirmed on Wednesday and is considering a joint bid with Egypt and Greece to host the 2030 men’s World Cup.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said he expects two billion viewers to watch the ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup. World football’s governing body hopes it will help develop women’s football, marking the first time the competition has been shared between two countries.