The impact of the Saudis and their money is being felt around the world
As Jota and Gerrard make moves to the Middle East, player’s union consultant TONY HIGGINS says more will follow
It is fair to say that Saudi Arabia is the talk of the steamie in Scottish football.
Jota has quit Celtic to jet off to the Middle East in a move worth £25 million and the small matter of wages of nearly £200,000 a week.
At the country’s champions Al-ittihad, the Portuguese joins a squad that includes World Cup winner N’golo Kante and Karim Benzema.
Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has likewise been made an offer he cannot refuse, having taken control of Al-ettiffaq, a domestic rival of Jota’s new club.
Speculation quickly followed he would attempt to raid the Light Blues for James Tavernier, one of his favourites at Ibrox.
With Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate feeling obliged to make reassuring comment on reports he could soon be following in Jota’s footsteps, it has felt as if every conversation has had a Saudi element to it.
As Tony Higgins, consultant to the world players’ union FIFPRO, explained, it is a trend being seen across the continent.
“We are witnessing a huge push from the Saudis aimed at developing their club game and the impact is being felt everywhere,” he said.
“An incredible percentage of their
FIFPRO are watching carefully to make sure everything is being done correctly
population is aged 25 or under, so they want to promote sport, and international sport in particular, as much as possible.
“They have huge finance behind them to make it happen – and are spending it.
“The difference with golf and the controversy surrounding LIV is they are not creating a league outside the auspices of FIFA, the governing body. They are just developing their own.”
And doing so on a couple of fronts. “Firstly, there is the focus on the superstars,” said the Scot, who in his playing days was best known for his spells at Hibs and Partick Thistle.
“Bringing in the Cristiano Ronaldos and the Benzemas guarantees you a worldwide profile.
“I am not saying people round the planet will start tuning in to see Al-ettifaq play Al-ittihad, but, if one of the big names scores a hat-trick, then the goals will be viewed on Youtube and social media.
“I have no doubt they will continue attract big-name players. The money on offer will be a real draw for some players, certainly for those who are coming toward the ends of their careers.
“However, if they also land younger players of the standard of Jota, it will add credibility to the league, especially if they stay for a few years.”
The union’s hope is that the expansion project has been thought out from top to bottom.
“FIFPRO are watching carefully to make sure everything is being done correctly,” said Higgins.
“They want to see the Saudis get
the basic structures in the country right and be sure to honour contracts.
“If Saudi Arabia want to emulate the top leagues in Europe and the American system, then they have to honour all contracts.
“Just last summer, FIFPRO sent a newsletter warning members to be careful about transferring to certain countries because of issues with nonpayment of salaries.
“Saudi Arabia was one of the names mentioned along with the likes of Turkey, Romania and China.
“It is highly unlikely any of the superstars like Cristiano or Benzema are going to be fall into that trap because they will be represented by the top, top agents, but you have always got to be careful.
“The union’s advice is not don’t go to play in any of these countries, just that if you do try and make sure you have financial guarantees and safeguards in place.”
It comes from previous experience of other football booms.
“We saw a similar situation with China 10 or 11 years ago when Didier Drogba and others were brought in for phenomenal amounts of money,” said the 69-year-old.
“There were a lot of problems involving certain clubs and player salaries. A decade on, China is still on the list.
“If we go way back to my own playing days, America was the big new destination.
“While icons Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto and Johan Cruyff were the NASL’S star turns, they wanted players at an ordinary level, too. Me, in fact.
“I had toured Canada with Hibs and got Player of the Tournament in a wee competition we played out there.
“Off the back of that, I got an offer from Edmonton Drillers to go out and be a player-coach with them. There was interest from Calgary Boomers, too. I was going back to university, so I turned them down, but a lot of the Scottish lads went and tried their luck.
“In the end, that league collapsed, and I think part of the problem was they did not spend enough time on the indigenous talent.
“They have that sorted now with lots of Americans playing in their home country as a springboard to Europe – possibly Saudi Arabia, too.”
As much as the English Premier
League is the biggest influence for the Saudis, Higgins says they are also scrutinising the US model. “There have been reports in the American media that the Saudis are looking at going down their route of introducing central contracts and running a draft system,” he said.
“Potentially, that would mean you would sign for the league and then be allocated to a club as opposed to choosing where you wanted to go.
“The advantage that would give them is the chance to ensure the league was competitive. “Whether they go ahead with that, I don’t know. Top players might not be so keen to give up that element of control in their careers. Increasingly, sports people now make a lot of their own choices.
“That might pertain to sponsorship involving alcohol companies or LGBT rights in World Cup host country as we saw with the World Cup in Qatar last year.
“So, for Saudi Arabia, there will probably also be some players who will say I am not going there because of human rights issues. “Human rights were a question with China, too, though, and they attracted lots of players in.
“As the recruitment of Steven Gerrard showed, it is not all about players.
“He was a big one because you would imagine he could have got a job managing a team at the bottom end of the Premier League or top of the Championship if had been prepared to hang on for a while.
“In British terms, he is still regarded as a coach of a real ability.
“Five years ago, Saudi would not have been even a consideration because the place to be was in one of the top five leagues in Europe. Such is the power of money.
“Even administrators are being targeted. People who have worked in the Premier League, La Liga or the Bundesliga are being courted because they have the experience of how to do things the right way. “That makes sense because they are setting themselves up to potentially be the focus of worldwide attention.
“When that is the case, you have to do it properly.”