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6 Feb 2023

NZ & Australia: Football Associations join rights groups to condemn reports of Saudi sponsorship for Women's World Cup

Football by PxHere

In January 2023, Football Australia and the New Zealand FA wrote to FIFA following reports that Saudi Arabia's tourism authority would be an official sponsor at the 2023 Women's World Cup. The governing bodies state that were not consulted, and join human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in criticising the deal, in light of Saudi Arabia's treatment of women and record on women's rights.

FIFA was asked to comment on the reports but has not yet done so.

The rolling crackdown on human rights under Mohammed bin Salman has seen brave women’s rights defenders like Loujain al-Hathloul jailed, tortured and then banned from speaking publicly or leaving the country, so this latest reported effort to sportswash the country’s appalling human rights record is both breathtaking and yet entirely predictable... Fifa should speak out about the need for human rights reform in Saudi Arabia and not merely allow its premier women’s tournament to be used for sportswashing, while players, coaches and fans should likewise challenge this crude exploitation of their sport by Saudi Arabia.
Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK
It is worth remembering that, as recently as 2018, women and girls in Saudi Arabia were not allowed to play sport in schools – or even to watch sports in stadiums. Instead of sportswashing with sponsorships to attempt to rehabilitate its global image, it would be far better for Saudi Arabia to undertake fundamental human rights reforms, including to uphold basic rights for women and girls.
Minky Worden, Director of Global Initiatives, HRW

In March 2023, Visit Saudi's sponsorship of the women's World Cup was dropped following the pressure.

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