Optus Sport and New Zealand broadcaster Sky have made with FIFA to express dismay over possible deal to see Saudi sponsoring the Women’s World Cup.
Leading broadcasters Optus Sport and Sky have, in the past week. gotten in touch with to make feelings clear to the governing body when news broke that a deal with Visit Saudi was being considered for the tournament.
The issue has drawn outrage from far and wide with the game’s top players – pointing out that Saudi’s human rights record and ban on same sex relationships make such a pact unpalatable.
Responding to the issue, FIFA chief business officer Romi Gai says: ‘We can only point out that the media coverage and commentary (on Saudi) is based purely on speculation, and not on any information or statements from FIFA.’
Gai reiterated that FIFA is ‘strongly committed to gender equality and human rights’, stating that states that ‘a policy of engagement, rather than isolation, tends to yield more positive results,’
FIFA has not made a public announcement on the deal but has also not gone on the record to state it is not going to happen. That lack of clarity has left officials at all levels of frustrated, given it is now some weeks since the initial story broke.
