Ligue 1: Turki al-Sheikh, the intriguing Saudi who already saw himself in Amiens

His name is unknown to the general public, yet he is indeed a sulphurous character who planned to enter the capital of Amiens. Confirmed a week ago by the club’s president, Bernard Joannin, the proposal from Turki Al-Sheikh, current president of the Saudi Entertainment Authority and close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was finally closed down on Friday. At least for the coming season.

Revealed by Saudi state media, Turki Al-Sheikh’s interest in Amiens was surprising. Was this to be seen as a desire by the Gulf kingdom to compete with its Qatari neighbor and enemy, owner via QSI of another French club 130 km away? The role of the influential 37-year-old Saudi, former minister of sports, may suggest so.

“Leader of anti-Qatar propaganda in sport”

“Turki Al-Sheikh is the leader of anti-Qatar propaganda in sport,” explains Fatiha Dazi-Héni, political scientist specializing in the Arabian Peninsula. He directs the disinformation policy against the neighboring state. » During the 2018 World Cup, the Qatari channel beIN Sports notably accused the Saudi media BeOutQ (with a Q like Qatar…), of pirating the matches it broadcast exclusively.

On Wednesday, Fifa and UEFA published a statement condemning the activities of this channel, urging Saudi Arabia to quickly find a solution to the hijacking of match broadcasts without spending a single cent. The shadow of Turki Al-Sheikh hangs over this immense violation of commercial law.

More generally, the latter embodies “Saudi Arabia’s new soft power policy in sport,” analyzes Fatiha Dazi-Héni, author of “Saudi Arabia in 100 Questions”. He managed to obtain the organization of the Dakar Rally in his country.”

“We preferred not to follow up”

An event of global scale which adds to the holding of the Italian Super Cup in Riyadh in January 2019 and the arrival of Brazil and Argentina for a friendly match two months earlier. A member of the country’s religious aristocracy, Turki Al-Sheikh is “indispensable”, according to Fatiha Dazi-Héni, within the close guard of the authoritarian crown prince Mohammed Ben Salmane.

Faced with this interest in the Amiens club, Bernard Joannin gave himself time to think. “We can never neglect the people who are financially interested in us,” explains the Amiens president. The club is a business like any other. We have to listen to the people who want to invest in it. »

Finally, the president of the Picard club decided on Saturday, in an interview given to our site LeParisien.fr: “We preferred not to follow up on Turki Al-Sheikh’s proposal. We are in full preparation for the season, and want to leave with the same investors as last year. » Bernard Joannin is categorical. “For now”, at least he clarified, not excluding a continuation of negotiations next year.