Freedom House’s 2025 report ranks Saudi Arabia “Not Free” on internet freedom with a 25/100 score, citing arrests, surveillance, and censorship. These issues raise serious questions about compliance with FIFA’s human rights, transparency, labour rights, and press freedom standards for World Cup hosts amid sportswashing concerns. Saudi Arabia World Cup Award and Internet Restrictions Saudi […]
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-backed New Murabba has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to boost local content, spotlighting opaque governance amid FIFA 2034 hosting plans. Critics link this to sportswashing, citing absent human rights safeguards, migrant worker risks, and the environmental disaster of air-conditioned stadiums proven […]
Saudi Arabia’s discussions with Egypt and Somalia on a new military coalition, reported across multiple outlets, raise security risks for FIFA 2034 fans in volatile regions like the Red Sea and Horn of Africa, while the recent Riyadh Season Saudi Arabia Darts Masters (19-20 January 2026) underscores infrastructure challenges for summer football and sportswashing of […]
Saudi Arabian media has intensified attacks amid a deepening Gulf rift, spotlighting governance instability that clashes with FIFA’s human rights, labour rights, transparency, and press freedom standards for 2034 World Cup hosts. This development fuels sportswashing critiques, questioning Saudi Arabia’s capacity to deliver ethical mega-event hosting amid ongoing repression and regional tensions. Saudi Arabian state […]
FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s salary has quadrupled over the past decade, rising from CHF 1.5 million in 2015 to an estimated CHF 6 million annually by 2024, amid criticisms of lacking transparency and accountability in the organisation’s governance. This surge coincides with FIFA’s record revenues but fuels debates on executive pay versus investments in football […]
When FIFA handed Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025, the optics were meant to be immaculate: a golden trophy, a medal, and a certificate presented by Gianni Infantino as the president spoke of saving “tens of millions of lives” and stopping wars before they began. Instead, within weeks, the award has […]
The Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, scheduled for 19-20 January 2026 in Riyadh during winter, underscores governance gaps in human rights, labour standards, and transparency as FIFA prepares for Saudi Arabia’s uncontested 2034 World Cup hosting. Critics argue this Riyadh Season event exemplifies sportswashing, mirroring Qatar 2022 issues and prompting calls for FIFA to enforce its […]
Scotland’s World Cup dreams hit a major barrier for disabled supporters, with FIFA allocating just six wheelchair spaces and three ambulant spots per match. This represents only 2% of available wheelchair seating at venues like Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, which holds 300 such spaces. Stephen Reside, disability lead for the Scottish Football Union (SFU), called […]
Saudi Arabia’s launch of a $200,000 ’10 Darter’ prize at the Saudi Arabia Masters darts tournament exemplifies sportswashing tactics, drawing parallels to FIFA’s controversial 2034 World Cup hosting amid persistent human rights concerns including migrant worker exploitation, repression of dissent, and labour rights violations.[ from Sportbible] Critics from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch question […]
Finnish firm Metso secures €128 million contract from Maaden to build a gold processing plant at Ar Rjum mine, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s mining expansion under Vision 2030 amid FIFA World Cup 2034 preparations. Critics question alignment with FIFA’s human rights, labour rights, transparency, and press freedom benchmarks for host nations, linking it to sportswashing concerns […]