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Australia’s Sam Kerr in action against Sweden during their friendly match in Melbourne on November 12, 2022. Photo: AP

Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia and New Zealand seek urgent Fifa clarification on Saudi Arabia sponsorship

  • Governing bodies write to Fifa after reports Saudi Arabia tourism authority has signed sponsorship deal for global football showpiece
  • Football Australia say in statement ‘we are very disappointed we were not consulted on this matter prior to any decision being made’
Fifa

Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have written to Fifa seeking urgent clarification after reports that Saudi Arabia’s tourism authority has signed a sponsorship deal for the global football showpiece.

Football Australia (FA) expects global governing body Fifa to confirm that Visit Saudi will join international brands such as Adidas, Coca-Cola and Visa as major sponsors of the 32-team tournament which kicks off in July, the Guardian reported.

FA said it understood Fifa had entered into a “destination partnership agreement” for the World Cup and had written to Fifa seeking clarity on the situation.

“We are very disappointed that Football Australia were not consulted on this matter prior to any decision being made,” FA said in a statement on Wednesday.

New Zealand Football added in a separate statement: “If these reports prove correct, we are shocked and disappointed to hear this as New Zealand Football haven’t been consulted by Fifa at all on this matter.”

Tazuni, the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023 official mascot, makes a first Australian appearance alongside junior players in Melbourne. Photo: Reuters

Fifa and Visit Saudi were unable to provide immediate comment.

Reports of the sponsorship deal drew a scathing response from human rights activists.

“It would be quite the irony for Saudi’s tourism body to sponsor the largest celebration of women’s sport in the world when you consider that, as a woman in Saudi Arabia, you can’t even have a job without the permission of your male guardian,” said Amnesty International Australia campaigner Nikita White.

Former Australia international and media pundit Craig Foster said it would be “disgraceful in the extreme”.

Former Brazil player Gilberto Silva pulls out China during the football draw ceremony for the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup. Photo: AFP

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has in recent years introduced reforms allowing women greater control over their lives but men still retain a tight grip on power.

The kingdom made a major splash in global football in recent months with Cristiano Ronaldo joining Saudi club Al Nassr in a two-and-a-half year deal estimated to be worth more than €200 million (US$217 million).

The Middle Eastern nation also has ambitions of hosting the men’s World Cup in 2030 and is expected to be rubber stamped as host of the 2027 Asian Cup at an Asian Football Confederation congress this month.

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