AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continues his efforts to search for a "lifeline" through sporting deals in an attempt to whitewash his crimes, the latest is a partnership with Spanish team Real Madrid.
Leaked documents have revealed that Real Madrid are in talks with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Qiddiya project about a €150 million partnership deal that would include becoming the lead sponsor of their women’s team, according to The Times.
Bin Salman is trying through sports deals and hosting international events to launder his reputation and criminal image that swept the world after the Yemen war and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Times has seen two separate documents detailing a proposed partnership between the club and Qiddiya, with a project worth over €6.5 billion being built close to Riyadh, intended to become Saudi Arabia’s “capital of sports and entertainment”.
It said that the approach to Real could be another attempt by the country to use “sportswashing” to gain international influence and positive publicity.
One of the documents, said to be from Saudi Arabia's ministry of culture last year, says a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was agreed by Real and Qiddiya.
Prior stress
The Times notes that Saudi Arabia has exerted pressure for “formalising discussions to establish a strategic partnership”. In return for a ten-year deal worth up to £130 million,
According to the newspaper, Real would agree to “continuously dedicate its ambassadors and a minimum of four players from the men's first team to endorse Qiddiya”.
It said that these people will promote Qiddiya on its webpage and social media channels. The document states: “As part of the collaboration, Qiddiya will become the lead sponsor of the Real Madrid women's team. Real Madrid's female stars will travel to the kingdom to make appearances [to] inspire young girls to participate in sports.”
The other document is a draft MoU apparently produced by the club. It refers to “evaluating the possibility of developing a Real Madrid Entertainment Centre in Qiddiya” including a museum, interactive entertainment and merchandising store.
Real Madrid is experiencing financial difficulties due to the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
In conditions where fans cannot attend matches, the club is looking for new sponsors. Due to the sponsorship, the Madrid leadership wants to fill the budget deficit. The required amount is about 300 million euros.
Human rights calls
Human rights organisations have previously called for a boycott of the Dakar Rally that was held last January amid accusations of "sportswashing" in Saudi Arabia.
International organizations and institutions (from different countries of the world) urged all participants to urge the Al Saud authorities to respect human rights, calling for pressure for the immediate and unconditional release of all opponents, defenders and women human rights defenders.
/129
source : al-Masirah
Monday
22 February 2021
5:36:07 AM
1117620
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continues his efforts to search for a "lifeline" through sporting deals in an attempt to whitewash his crimes, the latest is a partnership with Spanish team Real Madrid.