World

Women’s World Cup 2023: Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand write to Fifa over Saudi sponsor

[ad_1]

Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have asked Fifa to “urgently clarify” reports that Saudi Arabia’s tourism authority is to be named as an official sponsor of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

A deal with Visit Saudi is set to be announced and has already been criticised by human rights groups.

The Gulf Kingdom has been accused of human rights abuses.

Football Australia and New Zealand Football said they were not consulted and are “disappointed”.

They have both written to football’s world governing body, while Amnesty International called it “crude exploitation” of the sport.

The Women’s World Cup takes place from 20 July to 20 August in cities across Australia and New Zealand, and organisers believe a record two billion people could watch the tournament.

The sponsorship deal – yet to be formally announced – is part of a new commercial partnership structure that Fifa set up to allow brands to specifically support the women’s game.

While the size of the deal has not been revealed, insiders claim it will provide a significant boost to the women’s game, and the money generated will be reinvested back into football.

“Football Australia understands Fifa has entered into a destination partnership agreement in respect to the Fifa Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023,” Football Australia said in a statement.

“We are very disappointed that Football Australia were not consulted on this matter prior to any decision being made. Football Australia and New Zealand Football have jointly written to Fifa to urgently clarify the situation.”

New Zealand Football added: “If these reports prove correct, we are shocked and disappointed to hear this as New Zealand Football haven’t been consulted by Fifa at all on this matter.”

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in sporting events in recent years but has been accused of using events to ‘sportswash’ its reputation.

There are concerns over human rights in the country, women’s rights and the use of the death penalty.

Women’s rights campaigners have been imprisoned, despite some reform under crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, such as an end to the ban on women driving.

Western intelligence agencies claim the crown prince ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 – which he denies.

“It would be quite the irony for Saudi’s tourism body to sponsor the largest celebration of women’s sport in the world when you consider that, as a woman in Saudi Arabia, you can’t even have a job without the permission of your male guardian,” said Amnesty International Australia campaigner Nikita White.

Saudi Arabia’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal previously told BBC Sport that he believes the country will always face global criticism.

“I think we will always be criticised but we have to look at what’s best for our country and our people, and what is actually developing our youth towards the future,” Prince Abdulaziz said.

On Wednesday, the nation was awarded the hosting rights to stage the men’s Asian Cup in 2027.

Saudi Arabia is also bidding to host the Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in 2026.

Although Saudi Arabia only sent women to the Olympics for the first time in 2012, it has taken steps to develop women’s football in recent years, with female fans allowed to attend football matches for the first time in 2018.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has appointed two women to its board of directors and created a women’s football department in 2019.

In 2020, a Women’s Football League was launched, and last month Saudi Arabia hosted and won a four-nation women football tournament in their bid to feature in the Fifa women’s world rankings for the first time.

Across the BBC bannerAcross the BBC footer

[ad_2]

Source link

Jake

Jacob Keiter is a husband, a writer, a journalist, a musician, and a business owner. His journey to becoming a writer was one that was paved with challenges, but ultimately led him to find his true calling. Jacob's early years were marked by a strong desire for creative expression. He was always drawn to music, and in his youth, he played in several bands, chasing the elusive promise of fame and success. However, despite his best efforts, Jacob struggled to find the recognition he craved. It wasn't until he hit a low point in his life that Jacob discovered his love for writing. He turned to writing as a form of therapy during a particularly difficult time, and found that it not only helped him to cope with his struggles, but also allowed him to express himself in a way that he had never been able to before. Jacob's writing skills quickly caught the attention of others, and he soon found himself working as a journalist for The Sun out of Hummelstown. From there, he went on to contribute to a variety of publications, including the American Bee Journal and Referee Magazine. Jacob's writing style is reflective of traditional journalism, but he also infuses his work with a unique voice that sets him apart from others in his field. Despite his success as a writer, Jacob also owns another business, JJ Auto & Home, which specializes in cleaning. Jacob's commitment to excellence is evident in all of his endeavors, whether it be in his writing or in his business ventures. Today, Jacob is the author of two books and continues to inspire others through his writing. His journey to becoming a writer serves as a reminder that sometimes our darkest moments can lead us to our greatest achievements.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *