Women's soccer players slam FIFA's partnership with Saudi Aramco over human rights, environmental concerns

More than a hundred international women's soccer players are calling on FIFA to reconsider its sponsorship by Saudi Arabian oil company Saudi Aramco, which is majority state-owned, in an open letter to FIFA's president.

Calling it a "middle finger to women's soccer," the 106 players who signed the letter say Saudi Arabia's human rights violations, particularly against women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, go against the sport's values of equality and inclusion.

The athletes' letter, sent to CBC News in advance of its official release, emphasizes that gay players, "many of whom are heroes of our sport," are particularly at risk of persecution in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is considered a crime.

The players also raise concerns about the oil company's environmental impact.

Saudi Aramco is the largest oil producer in the world. It is 98.5 per cent owned by Saudi Arabia.

FIFA's deal with Saudi Aramco, announced in April, lasts until 2027. It includes sponsorship of both the men and women's World Cups in 2026 and 2027.

FIFA's other major partners include companies such as Adidas, Coca-Cola and Visa.

In response to the letter, FIFA said it stands by the sponsorship.

"FIFA values its partnership with Aramco and its many other commercial and rights partners," the organization sent in a statement. 

Saudi Aramco has not yet responded to requests for comment from CBC News.

Sponsorship is 'absurd'

Among the signatories are current Team Canada captain Jessie Fleming and former Team Canada goaltender Erin McLeod.

"[Saudi Arabia] has the 2034 World Cup bid and thinking of someone like myself, even travelling to go watch those games would not be an option," McLeod told CBC News. 

McLeod, who is openly gay, is married to Icelandic soccer player Gunny Jónsdóttir. The couple just welcomed a newborn into the family. 

"I think it comes back to FIFA being an extremely powerful organization. What responsibility do they have to uphold what they've said? They've said very publicly where they stand on human rights," McLeod said.

Danish national team player Sofie Junge Pedersen, one of the letter's three main signatories, reached out to women soccer players around the world about the issue.

"We think that it's quite absurd that we, as female football players, are asked to promote on our shirt, Saudi Aramco as a sponsor," Junge Pedersen told CBC News.

"The human rights violation there, the discrimination against women that the Saudi authorities stand for," she said from her home in Milan, where she currently plays for Inter Milan.

"It's just absurd and very shocking for me that we are asked to do that when these are not our values and also not FIFA's own values."

Justify sponsorship, players ask FIFA

In the open letter, the signatories ask FIFA to drop the sponsorship and explain how the governing body can justify its initial decision to sign the deal.

"In taking Aramco's sponsorship, FIFA is choosing money over women's safety and the safety of the planet and that's something we as players are standing against, together," current Team Canada Jessie Fleming writes.

The third concern for the players is the impact of Saudi Aramco on the environment. 

In the letter, the players write: "This sponsorship is much worse than an own goal for football: FIFA might as well pour oil on the pitch and set it alight."

The players are also asking FIFA to respond to their request to create a review committee with player representation concerning sponsorship decisions.

FIFA did not respond to those demands, instead noting "sponsorship revenues generated by FIFA are reinvested back into the game at all levels and investment in women's football continues to increase."

The soccer organization says on its website that it is "committed to respecting all internationally recognized human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights."