Oil money is taking over international soccer; it has been for some time. The 2022 World Cup, Manchester City’s success, and player poaching to the developing Saudi League is rapidly changing the sport on a global scale.
The 2022 World Cup is a shining example of the large-scale corruption of FIFA. Where the World Cup is held is based on a vote by FIFA officials, similar to how the Olympics are decided. Those votes were bought by Qatar, a small desert state abounding with oil (FIFA admitted to the corruption after an investigation). Qatar is on average over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer making it dangerous for players who run around seven miles in a game. The solution was not to find a different country but to move the 2022 World Cup to the winter. This fell in the middle of every international soccer league (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, etc.) interrupting thousands of players’ seasons and having them risk an injury for their national team that could take them out of playing the remainder of their club team season.
Manchester City has been owned by the vice president of the Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mansou, since 2008. Mansou has been to two games since buying the club the latest being the 2023 Champions League final against AC Milan. City is a powerhouse with one of the deepest benches in Europe and the Premier League’s top goal scorer, Erling Haaland. Haaland debuted at the club for the 2022/23 season after having previously played for Dortmund. City spent 62.6 million for the transfer.
The Saudi Pro League has been rapidly poaching players from European leagues in recent years. Major players to leave to the Middle Eastern league include: Sadio Mané, Robert Fermino, Neymar Júnior, Christiano Ronaldo, etc.. The players are transferring for considerable fees. During the tailend of the summer transfer window Al Ittihad, a Saudi club, offered Liverpool FC 189.6 million dollars for their striker and franchise cornerstone, Mohamed Salah. To the elation of Reds fans, Salah stayed at the club. However, the looming threat of a transfer to a Saudi club puts pressure on European clubs to spend money, in some cases, they don’t have. Players usually leave Europe at the end of their careers (ie. Lionel Messi playing for Inter Miami CF), but with that much money consistently being put up that exit is coming sooner than one might think.
