Of course they have.
He has literally demonstrated how it works in his post stating that it doesn't work
I think it can be both. Rich guys being ostentatious is always about status. And sportswashing is also all about enhancing their status. The fact it also enhances the status of their country/region presumably helps when it comes to using state coffers to bankroll their penis extensions.
That doesn't make sense.
The plausible reason is the last one.
They are, already. And have been for a good while now
If you're stupid enough to be taken in by a despotic regime just because they throw money at a sports event, then more fool you. I don't blame Saudi Arabia for that. I commend them for being able to pull it off. My opinion of Putin didn't change or soften just because of the Russia World Cup. He's always been a devious prat.He has literally demonstrated how it works in his post stating that it doesn't work
There's a lot of stupid people in the World...
You're diluting the public knowledge of yourself and your country with positive information, essentially burying the negative information that is already out there, to some extent. Most of the world are idiots, that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
Well then there's nothing to complain about then is there?
And a CL final will be played there.
This conversation stemmed from you essentially saying sportwashing didn't exist.
More focus is on all their actions. People are talking about them and they are relevant. Instead of 50% of the coverage being criticism, over time it becomes 20%, then 10%, then nothing. That's what sportswashing is.
1. More focus has been placed on their undesirable actions, not less. This thread is 1 example. Reddit. The press. We have a United States senator on record (someone who is on the Armed Services committee) pointing out LIV's hypocrisy with regards to Saudi Arabia's involvement in 9/11 (something our country completely ignored, mind, going on goose chases in Iraq instead). PMs spoke after Newcastle's purchase by Saudi Arabia. George Bush should have become a minority stakeholder in the Cowboys, that would have saved him years of grief over Iraq and Hurricane Katrina...
2. Yeah the Western public have never been outraged at us buying oils or selling weapons to Saudi Arabia or UAE. We have military bases and fleets in that region ffs, I do not ever recall a moment of substantial western outrage at anything in that region. Bar the killing of Khashoggi. And IIRC that was long before Newcastle. Yemen war? Kafala system? Silence.
This is why there hasn't been a definition of sportswashing that has held up to serious scrutiny. The effects it says happen as a result, don't actually happen. Rather, it's the opposite. Someone brought Putin as an example, ignoring the fact that from Yeltsin stepping down until Ukraine (not Crimea, mind), the attitude of the West towards Putin has been more embracing than confrontational, and to try and link Sochi and the WC to his emboldenment to attack Ukraine, instead of everything else (Chechen wars, Georgia, Crimea, saber rattling with gas...) is a massive fuvking stretch
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There is no country on earth today for which their significant human rights violations are a footnote or erased when speaking about them.
You do love talking in absolutes dont you? Of course there will be somebody, somewhere who will criticise them in 10 years. Just like somebody somewhere will be criticising the UK for its past. But nobody outside of The Guardian office will give a feck. That's the aim of sportswashing.
The UAE are a prime example. A long list of human rights abuses and manipulation in ME conflicts, and yet they’re more popularly known for luxury hotels, entertainment, and are increasingly synonymous with football and sport.
I imagine they have enough money to go around.
This is the one thing that won't work unless India is on board. No indian players = they won't survive.. and more money won't help as the indian fans will literally send death threats to the players if they quit the IPL..
You don't think Sky/BT and other big broadcasters will be all over the tv rights if they keep signing these players?
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I am sure the games will be televised but hardly anyone gives a shit so it won't be lucrative
Personally I think this is the new "Financial Doping" and all part of the plan. They are offering huge sums to older players on relatively short contracts. It doesn't add up. If they were just offering cash to the players I'd not be suspicious, but the sums being sent to Chelsea and others with Saudi Capital backing is concerning. I think they are trying to inflate the market because they want to maintain dominance. These huge sums of money flying from one Saudi's pocket to another Saudi pocket is more dodgy accountancy to get round FFP legislation.
Yeah… Heaven forbid a City player of all people would take the money option!
But City's owners aren't Saudi and they are in a good financial position in theory. I can't imagine they'll be pleased at losing one of their best players.
Carragher doesn't care about sports washing, he cares about The Premier League.
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Crazy. They are going for the clean sweep. F1, boxing, tennis, golf, football, potentially cricket.
Bonkers isn’t it. They really aren’t messing around anymore.
Yup this year already they've sponsored the IPL via Saudi Aramco. Expecting more to happen in the years ahead.
