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.