More than 100 women’s soccer players have urged FIFA to end its sponsorship deal with Saudi Aramco, expressing concern over the company’s ties to human rights issues. The open letter, signed by prominent athletes like Vivianne Miedema and Becky Sauerbrunn, asks FIFA to reconsider its partnership with the oil and gas giant, whose values they argue do not align with gender equality or environmental responsibility. The players also called for the creation of a review committee with athlete representation to assess the ethics of future sponsorship deals.
Saudi Arabia has faced accusations of using sports to “sportswash” its human rights record, particularly concerning women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. The kingdom denies such accusations, defending its laws as necessary for national security.
FIFA, in response, emphasized that sponsorship revenues, including from Aramco, support the growth of women’s soccer, pointing to increased investment in the sport, such as the groundbreaking 2023 Women’s World Cup. FIFA also highlighted that it partners with various organizations that support different causes across sports.
A representative for Saudi Aramco stated that the company would respond to the letter soon.
