World football's governing body Fifa came under pressure on Monday to reconsider a sponsorship deal with the Saudi Arabian oil firm Aramaco after it received an open letter from 106 female football players from 24 countries including France, Denmark and the United States.
The letter brands the contract worse than an own goal and hits out at Saudi Arabia's record on the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people as well as the impact of Aramco's oil and gas production on climate change.
"Fifa’s announcement of Saudi Aramco as its ‘major’ partner has set us so far back that it’s hard to fully take in," said the letter issued through the environmental and social campaign group Athletes of the World.
"Saudi Aramco is the main money-pump for Saudi Arabia, and is 98.5% state-owned. 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."
In April, Fifa, which organises tournaments such as the men's and women's football World Cup, agreed a 200-million euro sponsorship deal deal which would run through the 2026 men's World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States as well as the 2027 women's World Cup in Brazil.
Cases
Citing several cases of women imprisoned for campaigning for social justice, the letter adds: "The Saudi authorities trample not only on the rights of women, but on the freedom of all other citizens too.
"Imagine LGBTQ+ players, many of whom are heroes of our sport, being expected to promote Saudi Aramco during the 2027 World Cup, the national oil company of a regime that criminalises the relationships that they are in and the values they stand for?"
Three up-and-coming French players – Emmy Jézéquel, Zalie Chaine and Elisa Rambaud – were among the names on the letter that was also endorsed by seasoned internationals such as Denmark's Sofie Junge Pedersen, Dutch international midfielder Tessel Middag and 39-year-old Becky Sauerbrunn, who won two World Cups with the United States and led the campaign for equal pay for male and female American players.
The letter calls on Fifa to to give players a voice on the ethical implications of future sponsorship deals and adds: "We urge Fifa to reconsider this partnership and replace Saudi Aramco with alternative sponsors whose values align with gender equality, human rights and the safe future of our planet."
Fifa bosses though appear determined to maintain their stance over the deal.
“Fifa values its partnership with Aramco and its many others commercial and rights partners," said a Fifa statement.
"Fifa is an inclusive organisation with many commercial partners also supporting other organisations in football and other sports. Commercial revenue is reinvested into developing women's soccer."
(With newswires)
