Steven Gerrard’s Move to Saudi Arabia: A Controversial Career Choice
Steven Gerrard’s move to Saudi Arabia has been met with a mix of surprise and criticism. After initially turning down a move to the Middle East, Gerrard was eventually lured to the riches of Al-Ettifaq, a club that isn’t one of the four state-owned clubs in the Saudi Pro League. In taking the job, Gerrard becomes the club’s 10th manager in the last six years.
Gerrard claims he is still “very ambitious” and is excited about the challenge. He believes that with the support of the government and ministers, the Saudi league can become one of the best in the world. However, his move has drawn criticism from Amnesty International, who have accused him of “sportswashing” the country’s human rights record.
In this article, we will take a closer look at Steven Gerrard’s move to Saudi Arabia and examine why it has been so controversial.
What is Sportswashing?
Sportswashing is a term used to describe when countries use sports as a way to improve their public image and deflect attention away from their human rights abuses. It is a tactic used by countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Russia to try and improve their international standing.
The most recent example of sportswashing was when Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia. The move was met with criticism from Amnesty International, who accused Ronaldo of “sportswashing” the country’s human rights record.
Steven Gerrard’s Move to Saudi Arabia: A Controversial Career Choice
Steven Gerrard’s move to Saudi Arabia has been met with a mix of surprise and criticism. After initially turning down a move to the Middle East, Gerrard was eventually lured to the riches of Al-Ettifaq, a club that isn’t one of the four state-owned clubs in the Saudi Pro League. In taking the job, Gerrard becomes the club’s 10th manager in the last six years.
Gerrard claims he is still “very ambitious” and is excited about the challenge. He believes that with the support of the government and ministers, the Saudi league can become one of the best in the world. However, his move has drawn criticism from Amnesty International, who have accused him of “sportswashing” the country’s human rights record.
Gerrard has defended his decision to move to Saudi Arabia, saying that he got a “family feeling” when visiting the country and that it was right for his family first and foremost. He also said that he was motivated by the challenge and that he wanted to be part of a culture that already had fantastic support from its fans.
The Human Rights Record in Saudi Arabia
The human rights record in Saudi Arabia is one of the worst in the world. The country has a long history of torture, executions, and strict laws for women. Amnesty International has spoken out against Gerrard’s move, saying that it is more evidence that Saudi sportswashing has gone into overdrive.
Peter Frankental, Economic Affairs Director at Amnesty UK, said: “The gathering stampede from players and coaches to join Saudi Arabian football clubs on lucrative contracts is more evidence that Saudi sportswashing has gone into overdrive. Across multiple sports and multiple formats, the Saudi state is deploying huge sums to sportswash its heavily tarnished image and deflect attention from an appalling human rights record.”
Conclusion
Steven Gerrard’s move to Saudi Arabia has been met with a mix of surprise and criticism. While Gerrard believes that his move will help improve the Saudi league and make it one of the best in the world, Amnesty International has accused him of “sportswashing” the country’s human rights record.
Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether they believe Gerrard’s move is justified or not. However, it is important to remember that there are still serious human rights abuses taking place in Saudi Arabia and that these must not be ignored.