Minister urging Fifa to look at ‘empowerment’

Sports Minister Grant Robertson has urged Fifa to consider the “empowerment of women and girls” amid controversy surrounding Saudi sponsorship of this year’s Women’s World Cup co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

Visit Saudi, Saudi Arabia’s national tourism board, is reportedly set to be unveiled as a sponsor for the tournament. The sponsorship has sparked controversy, with Amnesty International among many to denounce the move due to Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record.

Robertson said he hoped Fifa would factor in empowering women and girls in its sponsorships.

“When it comes to women’s sport here in New Zealand, we have made tremendous progress, and part of that has been making sure that we are empowering women and girls in sport, but also in life generally,” Robertson said.

“I would like to think that Fifa would understand that as well, and when they are thinking about their commercial arrangements, that they would factor that in.”

Leaders of the New Zealand and Australian football federations warned in a letter to Fifa, including president Gianni Infantino, that unilaterally sealing the Visit Saudi sponsorship could “severely tarnish the reputation” of the 32-nation tournament that starts in July.

That is despite the tourism brand being endorsed by men’s World Cupwinning captain Lionel Messi, who was announced last year as a paid pitchman. The Visit Saudi campaign was among more than 30 sponsors at the men’s World Cup in Qatar last year.

Robertson said sponsorship was ultimately a decision for Fifa.

I’d like to think that Fifa, when they are thinking about their commercial arrangements, that they would factor that in. Sports Minister Grant Robertson

“The football bodies that are part of Fifa including NZ Football have written to express their concern,” he said. “That’s where the decisionmaking sits. From our point of view, we are focused on making sure we host a great tournament and we do empower women and girls to be active in sport and recreation.”

Fifa and Visit Saudi have yet to comment on sponsorship of the World Cup.

The tournament is set to run from July 20 to August 20.