Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi Crown Prince Unfazed by Accusations of Sportswashing – Here's Why
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman dismisses accusations of sportswashing, as the country's sovereign wealth fund acquires an 80% stake in Newcastle and considers purchasing Manchester United Saudi Arabia's sports spending since 2021 surpasses £5bn, according to The Guardian
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, remains unfazed by allegations of sportswashing despite criticism. Over the past two years, Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in sports domestically and internationally. These endeavors have sparked concerns that the country's high-profile sports strategy aims to improve its reputation and divert attention from its questionable human rights record.
During a seldom-seen appearance on Fox News, Bin Salman expressed his willingness to engage in sportswashing if it would contribute a one percent boost to the country's GDP. He unabashedly stated that he remains undeterred by any moral concerns, as his priority lies in achieving a 1.5 percent growth in GDP through sports.
"We will secure that 1.5 per cent, no matter what you call it."
The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, had initially contemplated purchasing Manchester United. However, in October 2021, it went on to acquire an 80% share in Newcastle for £244m instead.
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Newcastle's ownership changed hands in 2021 as Saudi's investment fund took over, leading the team to make a comeback to the Champions League after two decades.
The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has witnessed a remarkable transformation with an expenditure exceeding £3bn. PIF has secured sponsorship deals worth £1.8bn with Saudi clubs, and in June, it declared its effective control over four prestigious clubs in the country.
In the summer, SPL clubs exceeded £800m in expenditures to acquire 94 foreign players.
Significant investments from Saudi Arabia can be seen in golf, boxing, Formula One, and tennis. In December, the FIFA Club World Cup will take place in the country for the first time, with the long-term goal of hosting the World Cup in 2034.
According to The Guardian, Saudi Arabia has spent almost £5bn on sports deals since the start of 2021.
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Cristiano Ronaldo is one of many high-profile players in the Saudi Pro League
Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia has been accused by Amnesty International of engaging in "sportswashing" as a means to mask its highly deficient human rights situation. Additionally, Human Rights Watch has noted that Saudi Arabia invests vast sums of money into organizing large-scale entertainment, cultural, and sporting events in an effort to divert attention away from its precarious human rights record.
In its 2022 world report, Human Rights Watch found that although some reforms had been announced in Saudi Arabia, the presence of ongoing repression and disregard for fundamental rights continue to impede progress.
A United Nations inquiry into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 concluded that his death was an extrajudicial killing for which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia bears responsibility.
