In recent years, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a significant player in the global sports arena, with the Kingdom pouring billions into football, cricket, and other high-profile sports. However, this aggressive spending spree, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is increasingly being viewed as a strategic move to distract from the kingdom’s ongoing human rights abuses and to polish the Crown Prince’s tarnished image.
Most recently, Mohammed bin Salman has set his sights on acquiring Uruguayan defender Gastón Álvarez from Getafe, a Spanish football club, for an estimated 13 million euros. Álvarez is expected to join Al-Qadisiyah Club, which is owned by Saudi Aramco. This purchase adds to the already staggering amount of money the Kingdom has spent on football, positioning Saudi Arabia as one of the top ten countries in the world in terms of spending on football players.
The Crown Prince’s investment in sports has drawn criticism not only for its scale but also for its underlying motives. Mohammed bin Salman’s image has been severely damaged by allegations of his involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as well as the imprisonment of numerous scholars, activists, and other dissidents. By splurging on high-profile sports deals, it appears he is attempting to shift the global narrative and rehabilitate his public persona.
The numbers are eye-watering. Saudi Arabia’s Pro League, known as the “Roshn” league, ranks eighth globally in terms of spending on players over the past decade, with its clubs shelling out approximately $1.7 billion to attract top international talent. However, this investment has not always yielded the desired results. The Crown Prince’s management of these deals has been called into question, with reports indicating that the Kingdom lost around 400 million riyals in just one year due to canceled contracts and hefty penalty payments.
The Kingdom’s financial extravagance is not limited to football. Saudi Arabia has also expressed interest in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s most lucrative cricket league. Reports suggest that the Crown Prince’s advisors have been in talks with Indian government officials about transforming the IPL into a holding company valued at $30 billion, with Saudi Arabia potentially investing up to $5 billion. This proposed investment would likely be channeled through the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, which has already backed numerous sports initiatives, including the controversial LIV Golf league.
Despite the Kingdom’s lavish spending, many critics argue that these investments are nothing more than a smokescreen for Mohammed bin Salman’s broader ambitions. They contend that while the Crown Prince is busy buying players and hosting global sporting events, he is neglecting the real issues facing his country. Unemployment remains a significant problem in Saudi Arabia, and the nation’s GDP growth is sluggish.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia’s sports diplomacy is not without its challenges. In its quest to become a global sports hub, the Kingdom has faced backlash from human rights organizations and international observers who view its investments as an attempt to “sportswash” its image. This term refers to the practice of using sports to distract from or gloss over a country’s human rights record.
As Saudi Arabia continues to push its sports agenda, questions remain about the long-term impact of these investments. Will they succeed in elevating the Kingdom’s global standing, or will they merely serve as a costly diversion from the more pressing issues at home?
For now, it seems that Mohammed bin Salman is betting big on sports as a vehicle for change, but whether this gamble will pay off remains to be seen.
