Washing away a tainted reputation by trying to associate it with something positive is one of the oldest and most popular public relations strategies. In the world of sports, this phenomenon is called sports.
The Football Stars Box, where the main sponsor’s logo is located next to the club’s badge, is one of the most attractive advertising sites in the world. Of course, it attracts all kinds of large companies, including those that need to improve their image.
State-owned dictatorships sponsor the big teams in Europe’s biggest football leagues. And nowadays, countries buy entire clubs – such as Manchester City, Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain.
Olof Lund: ‘It might work’
Gulf countries are pumping billions into European football projects. Do they get value for money?
If you see what happens on the field, with great players and great football, maybe it will work if you associate the spectator with the owner, says football journalist Olof Lunde, the current book with Templet i öknen – so Qatar bought the biggest sport in the world.
But sports washing can end with its own goals. Football investments have also highlighted the shady sides of the owners. The fans are divided.
Some proponents believe it is not true, others agree, and there is no collective reaction to it. But we’re getting better at asking and discussing it, Olof Lunde says.
Is your soccer team owned by a dictatorship? – Here is the list
owner: Saudi sovereign wealth fund (80%)
stars: Alexander Isaacs, Alain Saint-Maximin, Jolinton
League: Premier League, Great BritainAt the end of August, Alexander Isak transferred La Liga to the Premier League in a €75m deal. The sum would have meant a new transfer record, but newly wealthy Newcastle could afford it. In October 2021, the club was bought by the Saudi government investment fund and since then billions have started to circulate.
Saudi Arabia is ruled by the country’s powerful royal family headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Last year, 6.7 million . were received Saudi guest workers The right to change job and leave the country for the first time without the employer’s permission. But the reforms do not cover the 3.6 million foreign workers, including domestic workers. In Saudi Arabia, dissidents are imprisoned and trade unions are banned.
Alexander Isaacs now plays football for Saudi-owned Newcastle.
owner: Qatar Sports Investment
stars: Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe
League: Ligue 1, FranceQatar bought Paris Saint-Germain in 2011. The following year, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was brought in as a big label name. The Gulf state is an absolute monarchy ruled by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Since Qatar was awarded the hosting of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup just over ten years ago, it has been around 7000 migrant workers They lose their lives in the country. The principality has been praised for abolishing the so-called sponsorship system, which has often been compared to modern slavery, but unions are still outlawed.
owner: Abu Dhabi Group (78%)
stars: Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden
League: Premier League, Great BritainIn 2008, Manchester City was acquired by the Abu Dhabi Group headed by the Emirate’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Abu Dhabi is part of The United Arab Emirates Nearly 90 percent of the workforce comes from poor countries in South and Southeast Asia. The sponsorship system gives the employer far-reaching authority over employees. For example, a guest worker who has been dismissed from work must leave the country.
Manchester City’s top scorer Erling Haaland celebrates with teammate Phil Foden.
owner: Abu Dhabi Group (47%)
stars: Yangel Herrera, Tati Castiglianos, Oriol Romeo
League: La Liga, SpainOn October 30, Girona tied with giants Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. Girona’s starting lineup included two players on loan from Manchester City and one from FC New York City. The explanation is simple – the teams have the same owner.
Abu Dhabi, through the City Football Group, owns teams such as Melbourne FC (Australia), Mumbai City FC (India) and Palermo FC (Italy). Since 2017, Girona has also become part of the football empire in the principality.
owner: Suning Holdings
stars: Lautaro Martinez, Romelu Lukaku, Milan Skriniar
League: Serie A, ItalyThe majority of Inter Milan’s Chinese owners are said to be on the verge of selling the club to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which already owns Britain’s Newcastle and wants to expand into Serie A. The last time Inter Milan won the Scudetto was in the 2020-21 season and finished second last year.
10 clubs sponsored by rogue countries
Over the years, a long line of football clubs in the most famous football leagues in Europe have been sponsored by companies associated with non-democratic countries.
AC Milan Sponsored by Emirates Airlines, owned by Dubai.
Arsenal – Sponsored by the Dubai-owned Emirates airline, which also gave its name to the London Club Arena.
Atletico Madrid – It was under the auspices of the Azerbaijan Tourism Authority.
Barcelona – It was sponsored by Qatar Airways, the state-owned Qatar airline, but the Spanish club chose not to renew the deal, citing “social issues”.
Bayern Munich Sponsored by Qatar Airways, Qatar’s state-owned airline.
Manchester United It was sponsored by Russian state-owned airline Aeroflot until last spring, but the British club ended the deal when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Manchester The club owned by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is sponsored by the Emirates airline Etihad.
Olympic Lyon Sponsored by Emirates Airlines, owned by Dubai.
Real Madrid Sponsored by Emirates Airlines, owned by Dubai.
Schalke 04 It was sponsored until last spring by Russia’s state-owned airline Gazprom, but the German club ended the deal when Russia invaded Ukraine.
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