{"id":135767,"date":"2025-10-21T10:37:32","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T07:37:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shiawaves.com\/english\/?p=135767"},"modified":"2025-10-21T10:37:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T07:37:37","slug":"saudi-arabias-expanding-soft-power-in-global-football-draws-attention-amid-human-rights-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shiawaves.com\/english\/uncategorized\/135767-saudi-arabias-expanding-soft-power-in-global-football-draws-attention-amid-human-rights-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Arabia\u2019s Expanding Soft Power in Global Football Draws Attention Amid Human Rights Concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Saudi Arabia\u2019s growing dominance in international football \u2014 described by a former FIFA president as a \u201cshift of the game\u2019s center of gravity from Europe to Riyadh\u201d \u2014 has intensified debate over the kingdom\u2019s use of soft power while its human rights record remains under fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In a recent interview with international media, the ex-FIFA chief said, \u201cWe have lost football to Saudi Arabia,\u201d noting that the kingdom now wields unprecedented financial, managerial, and media influence over the sport. According to the Shia Waves Persian citing regional reports, Saudi Arabia is investing billions of dollars annually in global football initiatives, including ownership stakes in major European clubs, multi-billion-dollar sponsorship deals, and the recruitment of high-profile international players to its Saudi Pro League, which has drawn stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former FIFA president added that Riyadh has become the \u201cnew clock\u201d of world football, referencing how major international tournaments, events, and commercial timelines are increasingly shaped around Saudi-backed ventures. Analysts across the Arab press described this transformation as a manifestation of Saudi Arabia\u2019s \u201csoft power strategy\u201d \u2014 using sport and culture to project global influence rather than traditional political means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yet, this narrative of modernization has been clouded by fresh human rights criticism. The Saudi Interior Ministry recently confirmed the execution of Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Derazi, accused of terrorism-related offenses. International rights organizations condemned the move as part of a pattern of politically motivated prosecutions, often targeting Shia dissidents in the Eastern Province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Observers argue that while Saudi Arabia\u2019s sports diplomacy has successfully elevated its global standing, its persistent record of executions and restrictions on dissent continues to challenge its soft power ambitions and international image.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saudi Arabia\u2019s growing dominance in international football \u2014 described by a former FIFA president as a \u201cshift of the game\u2019s center of gravity from Europe to Riyadh\u201d \u2014 has intensified debate over the kingdom\u2019s use of soft power while its human rights record remains under fire. In a recent interview with international media, the ex-FIFA …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":135816,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"no","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_108372464460192_245495985553329":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[{"account":"facebook_108372464460192_245495985553329","service":"facebook","timestamp":1761032269,"status":"error"}],"rop_publish_now_status":"done","footnotes":""},"categories":[11,1],"tags":[15200,15199],"class_list":["post-135767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-saudi","category-uncategorized","tag-growing-human-rights-concerns","tag-saudis-expanding-soft-power-in-global-football"],"yoast_head":"\nSaudi Arabia\u2019s Expanding Soft Power in Global Football Draws Attention Amid Human Rights Concerns - Shia Waves<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/shiawaves.com\/english\/uncategorized\/135767-saudi-arabias-expanding-soft-power-in-global-football-draws-attention-amid-human-rights-concerns\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Saudi Arabia\u2019s Expanding Soft Power in Global Football Draws Attention Amid Human Rights Concerns - Shia Waves\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Saudi Arabia\u2019s growing dominance in international football \u2014 described by a former FIFA president as a \u201cshift of the game\u2019s center of gravity from Europe to Riyadh\u201d \u2014 has intensified debate over the kingdom\u2019s use of soft power while its human rights record remains under fire. 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