From football to Formula 1 to golf
The Saudis want to become a major sporting power
Whether football, Formula 1 or golf. With the help of major sporting events and investments, Saudi Arabia wants to make headlines and sell the country well to the world. Ronaldo’s move to the desert state is just one of many stages in image politics.
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Rejoicing in the north east of England is huge as Newcastle United are bought out by the Saudis.
Nicholas HorniRingier journalism student
On December 30, Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr is a fact. The five-time world footballer cannot resist the fat million dollar package from Saudi Arabia. The change and the performance at the beginning of January can hardly be surpassed in terms of curiosity. The highlight: Ronaldo says he’s playing in South Africa. It is obvious that he probably only moved to the desert because of the money. But he’s far from the only player who couldn’t resist the temptation. Even entire sports have followed the lure of the royal family and their state fund, the “Public Investment Fund”.
Not only Newcastle benefits from the money
First of all football. After stops in Shanghai and Doha, the Italian Supercup will be visiting Saudi Arabia in 2018 and 2019. Also this year the “Supercoppa Italiana” will take place in Riyadh. The league earns 23 million euros a year for this. The Spanish counterpart receives even more money. The Spanish Supercup has been taking place in Saudi Arabia since 2019, with La Liga receiving 40 million euros a year for it.
Sports washing in Saudi Arabia: “The aim is to distract from the abuses”(05:42)
The Saudi investment fund’s most famous football project is Newcastle United. A consortium paid more than 300 million pounds to the owner Mike Ashley, who was extremely unpopular in north-east England, and in return received 80 percent of the club. The cheering of the majority of the fans knows no bounds. The joy hasn’t abated more than a year later as transfer spending has soared in excess of £200m. After 18 games this season, they are third in the Premier League.
chess, wrestling and handball
But the Saudis are not only well connected in football. Saudi sportswashing really takes off in 2014. The Saudis bring the wrestling league WWE to the desert state. Since then, the show fighters have made regular stops in the capital Riyadh and in the port city of Jeddah. While visits to the wrestling shows in the Persian Gulf have become commonplace, more and more boxing matches are also being bought. The mega duel between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua has already taken place in Riyadh, soon Tyson Fury and Usyk will also meet in Saudi Arabia.
In 2017, the Saudis bring the World Blitz Championship to the capital, Riyadh. However, this was overshadowed by a controversy, since Israeli participants had not received a visa. Since 2020, the Dakar Rally has no longer been held in South America, but in the desert state. For the next five years, the traditional race will now be held on the Arabian Peninsula. The handball players have also let the money cloud their vision. The Club World Cup is now taking place in Jeddah.
Millions for golf and Formula 1
Golf has also been hijacked by the Saudis. The Super Golf League has existed since 2022 and is intended to compete with the world-famous PGA Tour. “LIV Golf” offers astronomical sums, with prize money of 50 million US dollars being awarded at the last tournament of the season alone. World stars follow the lure of money, even if viewer interest has so far been more than meager. However, this does not always work. Golf legend Tiger Woods resists UK’s $800m bid
The Saudis are also investing a lot of money in Formula 1. Since 2020, Saudi Aramco, the largest oil producer in the world and part of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, has been one of the main sponsors. Races have also been taking place in Saudi Arabia since 2021. The kingdom will pay 900 million US dollars for ten races.
«Work in Europe is done»: Ronaldo received at Al-Nassr with a pyro show(01:34)