Saudi Arabia’s Influence on Football: A Deep Dive Documentary

In the documentary “Weltspiegel: Is Saudi Arabia taking football away from us?” (now available in HIGH– Media Library), Middle East journalist and footballer Ramin Sina explores fan culture as well as the political, economic and sporting ambitions of the wealthy desert state.

What’s special: The 34-year-old – who speaks Arabic – traveled around the country, met fans, officials, but also Saudi dissidents abroad and critical fans of Newcastle United, whose club Premier League by Saudi sovereign wealth fund.

What picture emerges from the new football nation after 45 minutes of documentary? Is the authoritarian rule of Saudi Arabia, which will probably host the World Cup in ten years, open up to the big business of football while it is near? Or is the West simply allowing itself to be captured by Saudi propaganda?

Ronaldo earns a good 200 million euros a year in Saudi Arabia

Changed summer 2023 Cristiano Ronaldoworld soccer player Karim Benzema and Brazil-Neymar’s idol in the Saudi Pro League, which until now has been meaningless in terms of global sports. There were dozens of other names from world football such as Aleksandar Mitrovic, N’golo Kanté, Roberto Firmino, Luiz Felipe, Sadio Mané and Riyad Mahrez. Suddenly you heard again and again European Former foreign club names such as Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad or Al-Nassr.

The reason? The money that is given on the table is more generous in the Saudi Pro League than anywhere else The documentary gives some numbers: Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to earn the equivalent of 215 million euros per season at Al-Nassr. Benzema is expected to earn 70 million from Ittihad, while Neymar is reported to cost 86 million for his services. And Lionel Messi, who knows who ended his career in Miami? He still receives 22 million from Saudi Arabia for his services as a tourism ambassador.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rules with a carrot and a stick

Ramin Sina, who appears again in front of the camera in the film as an open football enthusiast, with good humor and kicking, did not try to criticize the new Saudi football promotion in advance. He meets the fans of Al-Ittihad in the city of Jeddah, currently in fourth place in the league, where Karim Benzema plays.

The passion for football here is real: the fans flock to the colorful stadium, and the reporter also sees thousands of women in the audience. At least four of the 18 first division clubs have an average attendance of 18,000 to 24,000 visitors. Behind them, however, it will be statistically thin – 8,600 at fifth-placed Al-Fateh to 1,600 fans at bottom-placed Al-Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia has more than 35 million inhabitants, 80 percent of whom are under the age of 30 – a country of the future that is ruled carrot and stick by the young ruler, the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to the documentary, the number of executions almost doubled under the 38-year-old. It is said that he ordered the murder of the journalist Khashoggi.

Three main clubs belong to the state

However, MBS, as the governor is known, wants to be seen as a reformer. His vision for the stated goal of 2030: The economy should be transformed from oil to other sources of income, including sports as an economic sector and entertainment for the people.

A pastime that is enjoyed enthusiastically in the country where football is the main sport. With the help of sovereign wealth funds, MBS is investing billions in the Formula 1, boxing, golf and cycling. And of course in football. The sovereign wealth fund owns the clubs Al-Hilal (from Riyadh), Ronaldo Club Al-Nasr (also Riyadh) and Ittihad.

The 2027 Asian Football Championship will be held in the desert state and – even more importantly – the 2034 World Cup, as other contenders such as Australia have pulled out. FIFA-President Gianni Infantino, a friend of the wealthy states of the Gulf, is a welcome and frequent guest at Pro League stadiums and even gives a short, if inappropriate, interview to reporter Ramin Sina.

“Benzema, Neymar, Cristiano – everyone agrees to keep their mouths shut”

In fact, the travel reporter in Saudi Arabia only meets football players and proud, satisfied fans. You will watch a funny meeting with former HSV professional Khaled Narey, who moved to the Pro League and feels very comfortable in the country with his family.

Also possible is a public initiation and an interview with the Saudi cosmopolitan influencer Saja Kamal. There is even a national women’s league in the country now, which is reported live on television. This is worth emphasizing: Women are only allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia since 2018. So something has happened in the country.

But the film also gives voice to critical voices, which the narrator gathers a lot from abroad. For regime critic Lina-al Hathloul from the human rights group ALQST, Saudi Arabia is a police state. “They have my family in their sights, they are not allowed to leave the country. Of course I know I’m being watched too.” The young woman accuses the football stars: “Benzema, Neymar, Cristiano – everyone who goes to Saudi Arabia accepts to keep their mouth shut. And that’s where things get really dangerous. Because these images ultimately represent Saudi Arabia. If they remain calm, they will accept the government.”

“So I’m playing exactly the place for them that I should be playing. “

The Saudi influence may be seen on a trip to the northeast from England. The Saudis have had a say at traditional club Newcastle United since 2021. The jerseys are suddenly green, the color of the desert state. The ambitious Premier League club is paid ​​by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, PIF, the sixth largest sovereign wealth fund in the world with 555 billion euros. 320 influential companies in world sport are heavily co-financed by the PIF.

It was too much for two die-hard, politically aware Newcastle fans the reporter met in the pub. They no longer watch their favorite team’s games in the stadium – in protest. One person in front of them sums up the complex conflict between the fan’s desire for sporting success and ethical responsibility.

He finds it impossible that the club he has loved all his life suddenly belongs to a state. “We should represent Newcastle, nothing else. So on the weekend I am – albeit very little – a propaganda tool for Saudi Arabia. In doing this, I am playing exactly the role I should play for them – on the way to the West.

The documentary “Weltspiegel: Is Saudi Arabia taking football away from us?” Monday, April 22, 11:35 pm on Erste and in advance in the ARD media library.