Football is a "sportswashing" tool to improve their public image and divert focus from other issues (such as crimes committed by the government and human rights).
High investment in football is a state policy in Saudi Arabia:
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi
- PSG (owner)
Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Manchester City (owner)
- Mumbai City (participation)
- New York City FC (participation)
- Melbourne City FC (participation)
- Yokohama F. Marinos (participation)
- Club Atlético Torque (participation)
- Girona (participation)
- Sichuan Jiuniu (participation)
Mohammad bin Salman
- Newcastle (owner)
The
Vision 2030 project is a unique transformative economic and social reform blueprint that is opening Saudi Arabia up to the world. It is a series of architectural and technological projects to try to change this image and one of these points, within an idea of "soft power" is football.
Saudi Arabia is currently investing in other sectors because of the possibility of oil losing strength as the main energy matrix. This makes the country seek other forms of international insertion and wealth production.