In stark contrast to its treatment of African refugees, African footballing stars, including former Chelsea star and the world’s best goalkeeper of 2021 Edouard Mendy, and Liverpool legend Sadio Mane, are paid millions to ply their trade in the Saudi Pro League, joining dozens of other football stars including Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
And in a matter of weeks Saudi Arabia is set to be named host of the 2034 World Cup.
It is sportswashing, and it is working. Credible reports of the heinous and systemic, xenophobic violence by Saudi authorities hardly stir outrage anymore.
A year or so after our first article was published, the Saudi Public Investment Fund completed its purchase of Newcastle United – a move personally overseen by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, according to a report in The Telegraph.
