FIFA confirms Visit Saudi sponsorship will not proceed for Women’s World Cup
FIFA has clarified that Saudi Arabia’s tourism body, Visit Saudi, will not be a sponsor of this year’s Women’s World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
The football association has faced growing criticism in recent weeks from Women’s World Cup hosts Football Australia and New Zealand Football, who urged FIFA to clarify the reported deal at the start of February.
Speaking in a press conference overnight, newly re-elected FIFA president, Gianni Infantino described the dispute as a “storm in a tea cup”, saying that while FIFA did have discussions with Visit Saudi, they did not “lead into a contract”.
Infantino went on to double down on the global football association’s view that a sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia would be no different to a sponsorship deal with any other country.
He implied that it was hypocritical for Football Australia to criticise FIFA, given the $1.5 billion in trade that Australian companies export to Saudi Arabia each year.
“There is a double standard here that I don’t understand,” he said.
Football Australia welcomed the “clarification” regarding the Visit Saudi deal.
“Equality, diversity and inclusion are really deep commitments for Football Australia,” said Football Australia chief executive James Johnson, “and we’ll continue to work hard with FIFA to ensure the Women’s World Cup is shaped in this light and it is a historic event for our nation, showcasing the world’s greatest female players and advancing the game globally.”
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