Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema has slammed FIFA's rumoured plans to partner with Visit Saudi as part of a sponsorship deal for the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the Saudi tourism authority is set to be unveiled as one of the sponsors for the upcoming tournament in Australia and New Zealand. The news sent ripples of outrage through the women’s football community, with USA striker Alex Morgan branding the potential deal as "bizarre" and both the Australian and New Zealand football associations appealing to FIFA to clarify the situation.
Saudi Arabia's human rights record has previously been described as "appalling" by Amnesty International. Homosexuality and gay marriage are illegal, making the potential sponsorship unsettling for a tournament in which a number of prominent stars are gay.
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And Miedema - who is in a relationship with Arsenal teammate Beth Mead - has now shared her thoughts on the Gulf state's potential partnership with FIFA.
"It is hard to believe but apparently FIFA thinks it's a good plan to take on Visit Saudi as a sponsor for the upcoming Women's World Cup," Miedema said in her AD column on Thursday.
"Saudi Arabia is a country where women barely have any rights and were not even allowed to play football before 2018. If this weren't such a serious affair, it would almost make you laugh. That's how hypocritical it is. A country where you are not allowed to be who you are. Where you are not accepted as a homosexual.
"So that country as the sponsor of a tournament where 32 women's teams will compete, with many teams in which outspoken girls play who fortunately are not ashamed of their sexual orientation. FIFA is always busy making campaigns expressing how everyone is welcome.
"And then to think that this sponsorship deal is a good idea? The worst part is that I am not even surprised anymore. FIFA has shown many times that they like doing whatever they want, of course. They should be deeply ashamed."
Miedema will not feature for the Netherlands at this summer's tournament after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament during Arsenal's Champions League clash with Lyon in December. However, while the 26-year-old conceded players should not be expected to boycott the tournament, she is hopeful key figures in the women's game will make their voices heard on the issue ahead of the summer.
Saudi Arabia’s Women’s Football League was launched in 2020, two years after women were permitted to attend football matches. In January, the women’s national team hosted and won a four-team friendly tournament in a bid to secure a first-ever FIFA women’s ranking.
Reacting to the mooted sponsorship deal last week, two-time World Cup winner Alex Morgan said: "I think it’s bizarre that FIFA has looked to have a Visit Saudi sponsorship for the Women’s World Cup when I, myself, Alex Morgan, would not even be supported or accepted in that country, so I just don’t understand it.
"I think that what Saudi Arabia can do is put efforts into their women’s team that was only just formed a couple of years ago, and doesn’t even have a current ranking within the current FIFA ranking system because of the such few games played so that would be my advice to them."
The Women’s World Cup is set to commence on 20 July when co-hosts New Zealand take on Norway.
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