Promoter Barry Hearn has defended taking major sporting events to Saudi Arabia – despite criticism over the country’s record on human rights and accusations of ‘sports-washing’.
However it is understood that despite a huge £2.5million deal being signed before Covid for a snooker tournament there, World Snooker Tour may now have to look elsewhere in the region.
The Saudis increasingly have huge and controversial involvement in top-level sport through associations with Newcastle United, LIV golf and staging boxing mega-fights involving those featuring Anthony Joshua. And Hearn, still president of the Matchroom company he founded after handing the reins to son Eddie, insists his main motivation is doing the best for his clients.
