Saudi Arabian football made a big statement when Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January and it took things a step further this week with confirmation the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will take control of four teams in the Saudi Pro League.
PIF — which owns an 80 per cent stake in Premier League side Newcastle United — will control 75 per cent of the four SPL teams (Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, Al Hilal and Al Nassr), with the other 25 per cent controlled by a non-profit organisation.
More star names are being linked with a move to Saudi as part of the government’s plans to raise the profile of sport in the country and Karim Benzema has already been signed by Al Ittihad. An offer was also made to Lionel Messi, though the Argentinian has decided to move to MLS.
This comes in the same week it was announced the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, which launched last year, is to merge with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
Both announcements bring controversy. The nation has a terrible human rights record, homosexuality is illegal, and there are severe restrictions on freedom of speech and women’s rights. There have also been accusations of ‘sportswashing’.
Here, The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Jacob Whitehead and Wael Jabir, who is based in Riyadh,…
