Women's footballers protest Saudi company's FIFA sponsorship

More than 100 women's footballers from 24 countries have signed a open letter to FIFA asking the governing body to end its sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia's state oil company Aramco, reported dpa.

The letter signed by players including former US captain Becky Sauerbrunn, the Netherlands' Vivianne Miedema and Germany's Paulina Krumbiegel said the deal was "much worse than an own goal."

Aramco was unveiled as a FIFA sponsor earlier this year on a deal that includes the next women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil.

Saudi Arabia has been accused by human rights groups of trying to improve its image through engagement in sport in what they call sports-washing. The kingdom is expected to host the 2034 men's World Cup.

"Having Saudi Aramco as the sponsor for the next World Cup in 2027 would be a stomach punch to the women’s game, undermining decades of work from fans and players around the globe," the letter said.

"A corporation that bears glaring responsibility for the climate crisis, owned by a state that criminalises LBGTQ+ individuals and

systematically oppresses women, has no place sponsoring our beautiful game.

"We urge FIFA to reconsider this partnership and replace Saudi Aramco with alternative sponsors whose values align with gender equality, human rights and the safe future of our planet.

"We also propose the establishment of a review committee with player representation, to evaluate the ethical implications of future sponsorship deals and ensure they align with our sport's values and goals."

FIFA said it "is an inclusive organisation with many commercial partners also supporting other organizations in football and other sports.

It said sponsorship revenues were were reinvested back into the game at all levels and that "investment in women's football continues to increase."