Monash expert: Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup bid and sports washing
Saudi Arabia's sole bid to host the 2034 men's football World Cup has been approved and granted by FIFA's Congress. The decision has sparked concerns about the nation’s human rights record and sportswashing.
Available to comment:
Associate Professor Eric Windholz, Law Academic, Faculty of Law
Contact: +61 402 463 996 or eric.windholz@monash.edu
The following can be attributed to Associate Professor Windholz:
"Saudi Arabia uses sport strategically to strengthen its position amongst the international community. It wants credibility and it buys influence. And it is doing it spectacularly well.
"It's bought into English football, there's LIV golf, and it hosts numerous high profile tennis, boxing and other sporting events.
"Hosting the FIFA World Cup is part of its strategy.
“As for FIFA, it needs dollars and strong partners. So it manipulated the rules to make Saudi Arabia's bid a fait accompli."
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