The emergence of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) as a competitor to the most popular European soccer leagues has come about quickly. Their rise to prominence has undoubtedly come from the acquisition of some of the world’s top players ahead of the current season.
This wave of purchases was spearheaded by Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo after he agreed to join the club Al-Nassr FC in late 2022. His two-year contract is estimated by the media to be above 200 million euros ($220 million USD). This summer also saw the acquisition of Frenchman Karim Benzema and Brazilian Neymar.
The SPL also reportedly offered FIFA World Cup champions Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe an unfathomable 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion USD) and 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion USD), respectively. Ultimately, Messi chose to play for Inter Miami in the American Major League Soccer (MLS) and Mbappe his current club Paris Saint Germain in French Ligue 1. However, the exorbitant offers drew eyes from around the world.
This year also saw the unprecedented merge between the Professional Golfers’ Association of America Tour and the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Tour, drawing heavy criticism from golf fans. Many accuse the Saudis of “sportswashing,” attempting to improve its unfavorable public image through sports. People claim the LIV Golf Tour and the moves by the SPL are an attempt to divert attention from Saudi Arabia’s record of human rights abuses.
It would be silly and unrealistic to make the prescription for salary and finances to not be one of the primary incentives for players, teams and organizations. For as long as sports continue to exist, money will simply always be a dominant factor.
The massive Saudi investments also raise the question: what does this mean for American professional sports? Many have speculated about Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s possibility of acquiring a stake in teams in the NBA and other leagues, though NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated there have been no attempts by Saudi-backed funds to invest in an NBA team.
The investments elevate a broader discussion of big money’s increasing influence in sports. The LIV Golf Tour and the SPL’s rise to prominence are just two of many examples of enormous financial influence completely changing the world of sports for fans and players.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was subject to a lot of controversy because of strong bribery allegations as well as the country’s abuse and mistreatment of migrant workers leading up to the tournament. The NBA, likewise, took heat for its business with China amid the 2019-20 protests in Hong Kong. The list continues across a multitude of different leagues and countries.
It would be silly and unrealistic to make the prescription for salary and finances to not be one of the primary incentives for players, teams and organizations. For as long as sports continue to exist, money will simply always be a dominant factor. It should also be noted that soccer clubs and golf tours have every right to make offers to players. Huge contracts can even be beneficial in signing big-name players and helping a sport grow. However, what can and should be advocated for is transparency and honesty when these deals are made.
Lionel Messi’s short time in MLS, for example, has already led to massive growth for the league and soccer in the United States as a whole–an example of a big money purchase having profound effects. However, fans questioned whether MLS bent the rules to allow Miami to bypass salary cap regulations and sign the Argentine. If MLS were to change its rules to allow for bigger purchases, this could have a positive effect on the league, but a strong level of transparency on the part of teams and the league must always be maintained.
Sports, as with most things in society, are largely driven by money and profit. It’s of utmost importance that the pastimes we love aren’t also driven by corruption.
jlaforg2@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of AlNassrFC_EN, X
