DFB captain Alexandra Popp has been critical of the possible sponsorship of the Saudi Arabian tourism authority for the women’s World Cup in the summer.
Marbella (Spain) – Die Women’s World Cup in the summer casts its shadow ahead, but as with the male colleagues, the non-sporting setting in particular causes resentment. DFB-Captain Alexandra Popp (31) has now joined the list of critics.
Alexandra Popp (31) didn’t mince words in the DFB women’s training camp. © Robert Michael/dpa
Ironically, the tourism authority of Saudi Arabia is to act as a sponsor for the upcoming tournament from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand, as The Athletic recently reported.
“We are rather negative about the whole thing,” said the 31-year-old all-rounder from VfL Wolfsburg about the planned sponsorship on Wednesday during a media round in Marbella, Spain, where the German national team is currently preparing for the World Cup.
“I think the others from other nations have already talked a lot about the fact that this isn’t the best sponsor for a women’s world championship and for what we women stand for,” added the European Vice Champion.
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The Gulf state has been criticized for numerous human rights violations for years. On Tuesday, Amnesty International condemned the awarding of the 2023 Club World Cup to Saudi Arabia as “blatant sportswashing”.
“Poppi” also explained that the hands of the players were ultimately tied on the subject: “I’m curious to see what will come out of it in the end. Unfortunately, we can also add more than a little bit of our two cents that we don’t exactly approve of it not.”
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US star Alex Morgan (33, front) was not stingy with criticism of the possible sponsor of the upcoming Women’s World Cup. © Eric Espada / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Although the partnership with “Visit Saudi” has not yet been officially confirmed, the associations of the two host countries have already written a letter of protest to FIFA, according to the British Guardian.
One was “shocked and disappointed” by the potential advertising partner and also not consulted by the World Football Association, the statement said.
In addition, the US star attacker Alex Morgan (33) was clear in the Guardian interview: “I find it bizarre that Fifa is considering a ‘Visit Saudi’ sponsorship when I have no support in this country and would experience acceptance.”
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“Saudi Arabia could first look after their women’s team, which was founded a few years ago but has played so few games that it doesn’t even feature in the FIFA world rankings,” continued the striker.
The kingdom is also trying to organize the men’s World Cup in 2030 and is therefore pushing ahead with its own sport-political commitment.
