Saudi calls players back for August restart as Al Hilal resume title chase
June 12 – Saudi Arabia’s domestic topflight will resume on August 4 behind closed doors after it was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tag: Saudi Arabia
Saudi takeover of Newcastle teetering after WTO report finds state broke international law
By Andrew Warshaw
May 27 – The proposed £300 million takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) fronted by controversial Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, has been thrown into doubt after reports that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has found the Saudis breached international law by backing the pirating of Premier League matches.
Toon talk: Ashley gets his cash, Saudis get a club, and PL get a new board member
By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – Despite fierce opposition from rival clubs, human rights organisations as well as the fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the English Premier League is reported to have approved the proposed £300 million takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, PIF, fronted by controversial Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (pictured).
Kashoggi widow adds to Premier League club concern over Saudi takeover of Newcastle
May 21 – Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has demanded a meeting with Premier League boss Richard Masters to discuss the proposed £300 million takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, PIF, a finance vehicle closely associated to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
Saudi money for domestic football drying up, but Magpies may still get their cash
April 24 – Saudi Arabia is to suspend funding to sports and football clubs in an attempt to curb budget deficits amid the global coronavirus crisis, the country’s finance minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan has announced.
beIN urges Premier League to think hard before rubber stamping Newcastle’s Saudi sell-out
By Andrew Warshaw
April 22 – In a highly unusual move, the English Premier League has been urged by one of its major broadcast partners as well as one of the world’s leading human rights organisations to consider blocking a Saudi-backed consortium’s bid to buy Newcastle United.
Saudi Arabia enters bidding for 2027 Asian Cup hosting
By Samindra Kunti
February 5 – Saudi Arabia has announced it has entered the bidding to stage the 2027 Asian Cup. The blue riband Asian Football Confederation (AFC) event for national men’s teams was successfully expanded to 24 teams for the UAE hosting last year. In 2023 it will be hosted in China.
Saudi sportwashing fails to clean regime’s support of IP theft, EU report highlights
By Paul Nicholson
January 28 – BeoutQ may have stopped satellite transmission but the issues of piracy and the Saudi Arabian support for the rogue broadcaster still remain. BeoutQ’s decoder boxes are still in circulation and providing illegal access to third-party IPTV pirate apps streaming stolen live sports content, including all the world’s major football competitions.
South Korea take AFC U-23 title in extra time. Saudis and Aussies qualify for Japan 2020
January 27 – South Korea won the final of the AFC U23 Championship with a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia after defeating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final in Thailand with a goal in extra-time from Jeong Tae-uk.
Saudi’s Spanish Super Cup ends with Madrid penalty shoot-out and €120m for RFEF
January 13 – Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 on penalties to win the Spanish Super Cup after the money-driven revamped tournament, exported to Saudi Arabia, ended in a less than thrilling goalless draw.
No ‘Clasico’ for Spain’s Saudi Super Cup as Madrid teams take centre stage
January 10 – Amid all the criticism over human rights abuses and accusations of sports washing at the address of Saudi Arabia and its hosting of the Spanish Super Cup, Atletico Madrid tore up the script on Thursday in Jeddah by defeating FC Barcelona 2-3 to set up a Spanish Super Cup final against city rivals Real Madrid.
Saudi’s controversial €120m Spanish Super Cup ready to kick off but fans stay at home
January 7 – The revamped Spanish Super Cup gets under way in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday but few Spanish fans have made the trip amid heightened political tensions in the region and mounting criticism of the tournament being held in another Continent in a country long condemned for its human rights record.
Italian Super Cup focusses on human rights and commercial self-interest issues. A game was played
By Samindra Kunti
December 23 – Lazio defeated Juventus 3-1 to win the Italian Super Cup, controversially staged in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, its second season in the country.
Spanish TV turns back on RFEF’s Saudi Super Cup citing human rights concerns
November 15 – The criticism of the Spanish FA’s (RFEF) decision to move its Super Cup to Saudi Arabia in a €130 million deal is now alienating broadcast partners with state broadcaster RTVE saying it will not bid for the TV rights due to human rights concerns.
Saudi, UAE and Bahrain back in for Qatar-hosted Gulf Cup that kicks off next week
November 13 – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have reversed their decision to boycott the Gulf Cup in Qatar and will participate in the tournament which kicks off on November 24.