A sponsorship scandal shakes women’s football! DFB star Alexandra Popp (31) is also shocked.
Why is?
Saudi Arabia of all places, with its tourism authority “Visit Saudi”, is said to be the main sponsor of the women’s soccer World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next summer. Human rights are disregarded in the country and women in particular are oppressed.
Popp shoots against Saudis
National team captain Popp has no understanding for Fifa’s decision. “We are negative about the whole thing”says the woman from Wolfsburg. “It’s not the best sponsor for a women’s World Cup and what we women stand for.”
There is also harsh criticism from the host countries. Australia and New Zealand also complain that they were not involved in the decision to sponsor Saudi Arabia. “Ironically, Saudi Arabia is hosting the biggest celebration of women’s sport and in the country, women are not even allowed to take a job without their husbands’ permission.”, says Australia’s Amnesty International chief Nikita White. In the meantime, petitions against the sponsoring have been started.
US superstar Alex Morgan sharply criticizes FIFA
Even superstar Morgan shocked
The rejection runs through all of women’s football. US superstar Alex Morgan (33) also strongly criticizes Saudi Arabia as a sponsor. “I find it bizarre that Fifa is sponsoring a country where I am not supported as a person. I do not understand that. Everyone is against it because it just doesn’t make moral sense.”, says the striker. She demands: “Saudi Arabia could first take care of its women’s football team, which was founded a few years ago but has played so few games that it doesn’t even have a place in the Fifa world rankings.”
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Further protest measures are currently not planned, says Popp: “We can only point out what we think again and again. But that won’t stop us from focusing on football.”
