Why women footballers are taking on an oil company
Aramco has sponsorship rights for the Women's World Cup in 2027.
More than 100 professional women's footballers have signed an open letter urging Fifa to drop the Saudi oil giant Aramco as a sponsor over humanitarian and environmental concerns. It follows Fifa’s announcement - earlier this year - of a partnership with the firm that will run until 2027, giving the company sponsorship rights to the men’s World Cup in 2026 and the Women’s World Cup the following year.
The words ‘Saudi Arabia’ and ‘football’ are increasingly used in the same sentence, and the country has become a huge player in the game. But it’s not without controversy. The nation has been accused of ‘sportswashing’ - with critics claiming Saudi Arabia is trying to improve its international reputation by investing in sports.
³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ sports correspondent Katie Gornall talks us through why these players are speaking up, and if this petition could change things. We also hear from Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema and Danish international Sofie Junge Pedersen about why they chose to sign.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Mora Morrison and Hayley Clarke
Editor: Rosanna La-Falce
Last on
Broadcasts
- Fri 25 Oct 2024 17:50GMT³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service News Internet
- Sat 26 Oct 2024 02:50GMT³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service East and Southern Africa, South Asia, West and Central Africa & East Asia only
Podcast
-
What in the World
Helping you make sense of what’s happening in your world.