The backlash has been swift since the news broke last week that Saudi Arabia’s tourist authority Visit Saudi would likely be sponsoring the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Reports that FIFA is set to announce the sponsorship have outraged human rights groups and football fans globally, including many here in Australia, given Saudi Arabia’s appalling record on women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights.
In Saudi Arabia, women’s lives are still largely controlled by highly restrictive male guardianship laws, while homosexuality is outlawed.
The World Cup is due to be held in Australia and New Zealand in July this year, with half a million tickets already sold.
A petition to get FIFA’s reported decision reversed has launched online, gathering nearly 9,000 signatures in a matter of days.
Madeleine Shaw, an executive coach and former lawyer, told Women’s Agenda she created the petition when she saw the reports of the Visit Saudi sponsorship because she could not stand by and do nothing.
“I am the mother of a 14-year-old soccer playing daughter (under 14 Bs premier! ha), and we have tickets to some World Cup matches and we were so excited to be part of something so positive,” Shaw said.
“When I saw this news I felt it physically, like a kick in the guts – I just couldn’t believe a country that would treat us as children for our adult lives is getting the benefit of association with an event that celebrates the strengths and achievements of women.
“Also, their position on LGBTQIA+ people, given that they imprison or execute people for not being straight, is appalling. It’s just not ok. The hypocrisy of FIFA in taking this money is mind-boggling.”
Former captain of the Socceroos Craig Foster signed the petition, writing: “All girls and women have a right to full agency and freedoms and same sex relationships are protected under international human rights law. The appropriation of a women’s football tournament by a State that egregiously breaches women’s rights and which would imprison a large number of the players by virtue of their sexuality is unacceptable. Say no to ‘Visit Saudi.’”
Football Australia and New Zealand Football have also seemingly been blindsided by reports of the Visit Saudi sponsorship, writing in a statement that they had written to FIFA for clarification.
“Football Australia understands [that] FIFA has entered into a destination partnership agreement in respect to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023,” a Football Australia statement said.
“We are very disappointed that Football Australia [was] 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.”
Shaw, who is hoping to use her petition to get the Visit Saudi sponsorship pulled, said it’s something many people feel passionately about, with 1 in 3 people who see the petition signing it – a rate much higher than most petitions.
“I know that the Saudi rulers point to progress they are making and while that’s good to an extent, it’s just not enough that women can now drive and go into restaurants through the front door and not through a side entrance,” she said.
“They need to remove the guardianship laws and sanctions on LGBTQIA+ people before we even consider taking their money.”
Amnesty International Australia has condemned the reports of the Saudi sponsorship.
“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,” Amnesty International Australia campaigner Nikita White said.
“The Saudi authorities have a horrendous record of human rights abuses – including cracking down on women’s rights defenders
“In recent years we’ve heard a lot about the release of activists from prison in Saudi Arabia including the women who campaigned for the right to drive, but people who are critical of the authorities and human rights defenders continue to be imprisoned following unfair trials.
“The campaign of so-called reform leader Mohammed Bin Salman has been on is nothing more than a publicity stunt to try to diversify the economy. The Saudi authorities sponsoring the Women’s World Cup would be a textbook case of sportwashing.”
You can sign the online petition, Stop FIFA taking Saudi sponsorship money for the Women’s World Cup, here.