Micheal Martin has said he has “concerns” about the massive PGA Tour and LIV Golf tours merger that shocked the sporting world.
The Tánaiste was speaking in the wake of the mammoth business deal backed by Saudi Arabia’s government that had been criticised as an example of “sportswashing.”
He said: “We have concerns with the human rights framework within Saudi Arabia.”
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy takes aim at LIV Golf and its defectors during gripping press conference
The multibillion dollar deal sees the two previously fierce rivals in golf, who have been at loggerheads for two years, bury the hatchet and join forces.
Irish golfing superstar, Rory McIlroy, had been one of the biggest critics of the new tour, LIV, that saw many of the biggest names in the game, including former World number One Dustin Johnson, jump ship for individual contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars each.
Mr McIlroy stuck with the PGA Tour as others left for LIV.
Mr Martin was visiting Belfast on Wednesday evening where he was asked about the Irish government’s response to the announcement of the huge professional golf decision.
Pro-golf players and fans were shocked when it was announced on Tuesday that the PGA Tour and DP World Tour were merging their commercial operations with the golf-related businesses of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls LIV golf.
Critics of the Saudi regime say that takeovers in the sporting world are an attempt by the country to “sportswash” its international reputation of human rights abuses.
Mr Martin said our government aims to hold all countries to account on human rights issues, but that the takeover represented a wider problem of huge amounts of money in sports.
He told reporters at Belfast’s Linhall: “We have concerns with the human rights framework within Saudi Arabia, but we’ve articulated that, frankly, through our ambassadors and on a government to government basis, on an ongoing basis and so on, and we trade with Saudi Arabia although it’s limited enough.
“And we work in international fora, and endeavour to hold all countries to account in respect of human rights.
“I think more generally, it’s a matter for the golfing fraternity and professional organisations, but I think sports in general, and sporting organisations in general should be wary of the enormous amounts of funds and money that’s going into sports at this level.”
The PIF has also invested heavily in football, purchasing an 80% stake in Newcastle in 2021 and buying European players for the Saudi pro-league.
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January, while his former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema completed his move to Al Ittihad on Tuesday and Lionel Messi was reportedly in the sights of Al Hilal.
The PIF has an estimated value of over £500 billion.
Mr Martin said the money in sports, such as the investment from Saudi funds, raised questions on sustainability.
The Tanaiste said: “I think more fundamentally into the future in terms of sustainability of sport, it could be premiership soccer in the UK, it’s now golf at a global stage.
“The sums are enormous, and how sustainable all of that is for sport into the future I would question.
“The same with Russian oligarchs as well, using extraordinary sums of money to purchase football clubs.”
He added: “I have concerns about that generally, as a person who’s very passionate about sport and at the end of the day, the need for sport, to be independent and keep to its values and keep to its principles.”
READ NEXT:
- PGA Tour will receive eye-watering amount in merger deal with LIV Golf
- PGA Tour stars voiced anger at broken vow in tense meeting after LIV Golf merger
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
