News - Middle East - Saudi Arabia: Sports finance pool Sportico has documented Saudi Arabia spending, nearly $2.2 billion since 2017, aiming to rebrand itself as a sports and tourism hub in the Middle East. It said that tourism, torture and human rights violations do not meet in one same line. stressing that these amounts will not cover the crimes of the regime in Saudi Arabia by sports whitewashing.

The global website Open Democracy also said that Saudi Crown Mohammed bin Salman needed to clean up his reputation due to the ongoing repercussions of human rights violations. The popular website stressed that Britain should realize the threat posed by Saudi sports wash to Newcastle United.

The American magazine Newsweek said that the equation of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, is money in exchange for legitimacy, which is known as sports washing. Khadija Cengiz, the fiancée of the late Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, called for a financial rejection of 100 million pounds from Saudi Arabia.

She said that the goal is to host a match for them in the Kingdom, stressing that their acceptance will support the Crown of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, with his sports washing. Riyadh's image was damaged following the assassination of Khashoggi, the detention of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, its role in the Yemen war, and its black human rights record.

Saudi Arabia faces sharp criticism with every organization of foreign competition from human rights organizations and calls for the release of prisoners of conscience.

Saudi Arabia did not shine in the past in any sports competitions, as it did not win 3 Olympic medals in 11 participations. The investigation reveals that bin Salman established a special fund in which millions of euros were allocated to improve the Kingdom's image through sports washing.

The investigation confirms that investing in the sports sector, especially at the international level, is an attempt by Ibn Salman to distract world opinion from his crimes.

It explains that the Crown of Saudi Arabia went to the Italian club "Inter Milan" to acquire it through his investment fund, to whitewash his image.

Sources announced to “Khaleej 24” that he is trying again with the famous Italian club to control his investment fund of 850 million pounds.

It stresses that the Crown prince, who spends billions in light of the widening areas of unemployment and poor living conditions, is actively seeking to whitewash his image with sports washing.

Corriere dello Sport newspaper revealed that Prince bin Salman has a strong desire to invest in Italian football. It said that the task is not easy due to the great interest of large investors worldwide to buy Inter.

Bin Salman, who heads the investment fund, had sought to buy Newcastle United in the summer of 2020, but failed at the last moment.