March 30 – Fossil Free Football is protesting against FIFA’s partnership with Saudi oil giant Aramco with the launch of a satirical ad campaign.
On the sidelines of the friendly international between England and Uruguay at Wembley, the Dutch NGO drew attention again to FIFA’s deal with Aramco, serving as a FIFA worldwide partner, with the spoof launch of a new ‘FootbOil tanning oil range’.
“Make the most of the World Cup heat with Aramco’s new FootbOil tanning range!,” says the ad promotion.
“The world’s biggest oil company and FIFA Major Worldwide Partner, Aramco, is proud to present its new tanning oil range, fronted by Gianni Infantino (InfantinOil) and Donald Trump (DonOil). This unique collaboration between partners who are committed to boosting summer temperatures aims at ensuring travelling fans can look their best in the World Cup heat.”
The Saudi state oil company will be a headline sponsor at this summer’s World Cup which the NGO called the ‘hottest World Cup’ and the ‘most polluting tournament ever’.
“The world is rapidly heating up and this has a terrible impact on life on earth, and that includes football,” said Frank Huisingh of Fossil Free Football.
“FIFA could use football’s incredible reach to help promote the solutions that keep us safe, from solar panels to train travel to a more plant-based diet. Instead it has chosen to promote the world’s biggest polluter and support its efforts to keep the world hooked on oil. It’s time for FIFA to drop Aramco.”
The NGO rolled out ads in London’s streets as well as on the Underground rail service. In Zurich, they also paid a visit to the FIFA Museum shop.
FIFA signed Aramco as partner in 2024, in a deal worth reportedly $100 million a year. The sponsorship agreement came months before FIFA awarded the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia after an expedited bidding process.
“A huge group of players made it very clear that we don’t want this deal between FIFA and Aramco, for human rights and climate reasons,” said Sofie Junge Pedersen, FC Barcelona player and Danish international. “We are still awaiting a response from FIFA, who seem to care more about their sponsors than about their players. It’s important to keep the spotlight on this deal.”
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