In a bold display of solidarity, over 100 professional women’s footballers worldwide have signed an open letter condemning FIFA’s sponsorship deal with Saudi oil company Aramco. Addressed directly to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the letter denounces the deal as a betrayal of women’s football and a willful ignoring of human rights and climate concerns.
The Open Letter — A Damning Statement One FIFA Deal
In total, 106 female footballers from 24 different nations are joining in their opposition to FIFA’s decision to work with Aramco, one of the world’s largest oil producers. It is not this letter’s intent to be mincing words, stating that the deal in its current form is a “middle finger to women’s football” and a step backwards from progress made in growing the sport.
The players note that Saudi Arabia’s record on human rights, particularly about women and LGBTQ+ individuals, renders the partnership unacceptable. “The Saudi authorities not only suppress the rights of women, but they also suppress the freedoms of all other citizens,” the letter says.
The letter also accused Saudi Arabia of attempting to distract from its human rights abuses by sponsoring sporting events, behavior commonly known as “sportswashing.” The players maintain that this is not only an ethical issue but a direct affront to the core values of football. “This sponsorship is far worse than an own goal for football: FIFA might as well drench the pitch in oil and set it on fire,” they wrote.
UN Women Germany has also supported the footballers’ stance. Ursula Sutter, deputy head of UN Women Germany’s board, told DW that the sponsorship deal “is a real setback for advancement for women in football” and a “punch in the gut for women footballers.”
FIFA’s Controversial Deal with Aramco
FIFA announced its deal with the state-owned oil company, Aramco, in April 2024. The deal runs through 2027 and includes sponsorship rights to major tournaments, including the 2026 Men’s World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Attention critics say Saudi Arabia is attempting to deflect attention from its oppressive political system and poor human rights record through this deal. The country is an authoritarian monarchy with no elections and draconian limits on women’s rights. Homosexual acts are still prohibited with corporal punishment or confinement as the penalties.
The country’s human rights record has faced broad condemnation. Human Rights Watch says Saudi Arabia represses political dissent and jails activists. Reporters Without Borders ranks Saudi Arabia 166th out of 180 countries in press freedom, noting the nation’s censorship and persecution of journalists.
Aramco has also faced significant criticism over its role in climate change. It is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, according to the Climate Accountability Institute. A study by the British think tank Carbon Tracker also revealed that Aramco is the largest single source of global CO2 emissions. And in a climate where we desperately need to take action on climate change, critics say FIFA’s choice to ally itself with a company that is doing the opposite is, at best, a reckless decision.
What Do the Players Want?
The women footballers who wrote the letter demanded FIFA cancel its deal with Aramco, and that it be replaced with sponsors who are committed to good gender equality, human rights and environmental sustainability. They are also asking for FIFA’s future sponsorship agreements to be reviewed by a committee that includes female players.
The absence of female voices within FIFA’s decision-making structure is a major point of contention. The letter states that 37 people made the decision to approve the Aramco deal and that eight of them were women.
One of the signatories of the letter, Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema, has threatened to step up action, which could escalate to a boycott, if FIFA does not respond. “Women’s teams aren’t afraid to speak to what they believe in,” Miedema told the BBC.
She cited past instances of national teams speaking out, such as boycotts by the U.S. and Canadian women’s teams over pay equity and working conditions. “There will be things that happen around the World Cup,” she added of the players’ willingness to escalate their protests.
The new Saudi Arabia’s role in women’s football has sparked controversy before. Before the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, FIFA was in talks to accept a sponsorship deal with the Saudi tourism authority, but scrapped the plan after complaints from players and national-level football federations.
FIFA’s Reaction to the Backlash
FIFA has tried to defend its decision, arguing that it is an “inclusive organization” with many commercial partners and that sponsorship revenues are reinvested in the game. The governing body also pointed out that investment in women’s football remains on the rise.
But these assurances have fallen flat for critics, who say FIFA is putting financial gain ahead of the integrity of the sport. Players and human rights groups argue that FIFA should be more discerning in choosing sponsors that reflect football’s values.
Saudi Arabia’s Push into Sports
Saudi Arabia has been on an investment spree in global sports, part of a government plan to raise its international profile. The Saudi government has invested billions of dollars in sports through its Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and formed its own sports investment company in 2023.
Saudi Arabia has invested more than€1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) of its wealth in sports sponsorships, according to human rights organization Grant Liberty. But this is less than a tenth of the PIF’s estimated holdings of €600 billion.
Saudi Arabia has already netted stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané in its drive to lure top football talent to its domestic league with giant contracts. It is widely anticipated that the country will host the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in other sports too, beyond football. The kingdom is scheduled to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029, despite being a desert kingdom. It has also launched the LIV Golf series, staged Formula 1 races and held major boxing and wrestling events. Saudi Arabia has also dabbled in the area of e-sports as part of its drive to capture younger audiences.
Most recently, the Saudi capital, Riyadh, held the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament, which included top-ranked players like Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Even without world-ranking points, players signed up because of the huge purse. Nadal has signed on as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation, which is quite a development from a player who is set to walk away soon.
What’s Next?
Pressure from players, human rights organizations, and football fans is now mounting on FIFA to make a key decision. The governing body would risk alienating some of women’s football’s biggest names and sullying its reputation even further if it issues a new deal with Aramco.
It is likely there will be more protests in the coming months, and player-led boycotts could well be a reality as well. The trail of tears has begun with FIFA’s athletes at the front end; shouldn’t the organization hear their pleas?
For now, in both respects, the battle continues, and the voices of female footballers keep pushing back against the barriers.