Izuchukwu OkosiThe Saudi Football Association has sensationally made moves to have one of its teams play in the UEFA Champions League following the movement of high-profile players to the country’s pro league.
Saudi Arabia has been bullish in its drive to sign Europe-based top stars despite Amnesty International’s focus on the country. The INGO believes that the Saudis are using sports as ‘sportswash’ to hide their crime against humanity.
Several sources report that Saudi FA has held conversations with UEFA in a bid to boost Saudi football’s prominence. The Saudi Pro League has made waves this summer amid the arrival of household European names.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) led a cast of other top-class football superstars like Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad) and Neymar (Al Hilal) have all headed to the Middle East this year. Other names include Sadio Mane, Ruben Neves, N’Golo Kante, Marcelo Brozovic, and Roberto Firmino.
The cash on offer in Saudi have lured plenty of Europe’s high-profile players out of the grasp of Champions League football.
However, it may not be long before those stars are back among Europe’s elite if the talks come to a successful agreement. It remains to be seen how the Saudi FA would select the clubs to participate in the 2025 Champions League.
This move, if accepted, may mean that the European Super League which was championed by some clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United may become a mirage.
There have been calls for FIFA to step in and force a pay cap on what the Saudi League is paying to their players and coaches.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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