ZURICH (AP) 鈥� Canadian national team captain Jessie Fleming, former U.S. national team captain Becky Sauerbrunn and Netherlands forward Vivianne Miedema are among more than 100 women's soccer players who have signed an open letter protesting sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabian state oil giant Aramco.
The letter calls , which includes sponsorship at the in Brazil, "much worse than an own goal," citing Saudi Arabia's record on the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people and the impact of Aramco's oil and gas production on climate change.
鈥淎s well as funding the Saudi regime, Aramco is one of the biggest polluters of the planet we all call home. In taking Aramco鈥檚 sponsorship, FIFA is choosing money over women鈥檚 safety and the safety of the planet -- and that鈥檚 something we as players are standing against, together," Fleming said in comments via campaign group Athletes Of The World.
Fellow Canadians Erin McLeod, Emma Regan, Samantha Chang and Nyla Peterkin also signed their names to the letter.
Sauerbrunn voiced concern for women who are in Saudi Arabia.
鈥淭he safety of those women, the rights of women, LGBTQ+ rights and the health of the planet need to take a much bigger priority over FIFA making more money,鈥� said Sauerbrunn.
The letter calls on FIFA to replace Aramco 鈥渨ith alternative sponsors whose values align with gender equality, human rights and the safe future of our planet,鈥� and to give players a voice on the ethical implications of future sponsorship deals.
鈥淭his letter shows that as players this is what we don鈥檛 want to stand for and accept within women鈥檚 football. It鈥檚 simple: this sponsorship is contradicting FIFA鈥檚 own commitments to human rights and the planet," Miedema said.
FIFA's deal with Aramco was announced in April as part of between Saudi Arabia and world soccer's governing body. FIFA is expected to as host of the 2034 men's World Cup in December. It is the only candidate for the tournament.
鈥淔IFA values its partnership with Aramco and its many others commercial and rights partners. FIFA is an inclusive organisation with many commercial partners also supporting other organizations in football and other sports,鈥� world soccer's governing body said in an emailed statement Monday, adding that commercial revenue is reinvested into developing women's soccer.
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