Alex Morgan calls potential Saudi sponsorship deal for 2023 Women’s World Cup ‘bizarre’ | Latest News Headlines

The Saudi tourism authority potentially sponsoring the 2023 Women’s World Cup is “weird”, says US striker Alex Morgan.

The Gulf Kingdom was accused of human rights abuses.

“Morally it makes no sense,” said two-time World Cup winner Morgan.

“It’s weird that Fifa sought to have Visit Saudi sponsorship for the Women’s World Cup when myself, Alex Morgan, wouldn’t even be supported and accepted in this country.”

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in sporting events in recent years, but has been accused of using the events to “degrade” its reputation.

Women’s rights activists have been imprisoned, despite some reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, such as the end of the driving ban for women.

Western intelligence agencies claim the crown prince ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 – which he denies.

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) said it would raise its concerns with world soccer’s governing body over the sponsorship deal, which has yet to be officially announced.

“US Soccer strongly supports human rights and fairness for all and believes in the power of our sport to have a positive impact,” the USSF said in a statement to Athletic on Wednesday.

“While we cannot control how other organizations handle sponsor selections for the tournaments we participate in, we can voice our concerns and will continue to support our players.”

The sponsorship deal is part of a new commercial partnership structure that Fifa has put in place to allow brands to specifically support women’s football.

Although the size of the deal has not been revealed, insiders say it will give women’s football a significant boost and the money generated will be plowed back into football.

“I just don’t understand,” Morgan added.

“What Saudi Arabia can do is put effort into their women’s team which was just formed a few years ago and doesn’t even have a current ranking, in the ranking system of the Fifa, due to the few games they have played. .

“That would be my advice to them and I really hope Fifa does the right thing.”

Saudi Arabia only sent women to the Olympics for the first time in 2012, but it has taken steps to develop women’s football in recent years, with female fans allowed to attend football matches to the first time in 2018.

The Saudi Football Federation appointed two women to its board and established a women’s football department in 2019.

In 2020, a Women’s Football League was launched and last month Saudi Arabia hosted and won a four-nation women’s football tournament in a bid to feature in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings for the first time.

The Women’s World Cup runs from July 20 to August 20 in cities across Australia and New Zealand, and organizers believe a record two billion people could watch the tournament.