{"id":426935,"date":"2023-06-14T21:06:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T21:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/?p=426935"},"modified":"2023-06-14T21:06:00","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T21:06:00","slug":"liv-golf-pga-merger-is-another-attempt-of-sportswashing-by-saudi-controversy-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/liv-golf-pga-merger-is-another-attempt-of-sportswashing-by-saudi-controversy-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"LIV Golf-PGA Merger Is Another Attempt Of Sportswashing By Saudi? Controversy Explained!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The PGA Tour and LIV Golf\u2019s \u201crivalry\u201d is ended following the two organizations\u2019 unexpected U-turn on Tuesday, when it appeared that their disagreements would be impossible to resolve. PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan revealed that he personally informed LIV Golf Tour CEO Greg Norman of the announcement. This merger added fuel to the &#8220;sportswashing&#8221; allegations on Saudi!<\/p>\n<p>Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi PIF (Public Investment Fund), is a prominent participant in this enormous agreement.<\/p>\n<p>Al-Rumayyan\u2019s achievements in those positions caught the attention of Mohammed Bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, who nominated him as managing director of PIF in September 2015 after giving the organization additional authority to make investments overseas and installing a new board.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">PGA Tour agrees to merge with Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf. Sportswashing on a whole other level. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SaudiArabia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SaudiArabia<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/MBS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#MBS<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Pi7N0ieqM4\">pic.twitter.com\/Pi7N0ieqM4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Michael de Adder (@deAdder) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/deAdder\/status\/1666090944121421824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 6, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The PIF has been a significant player in business for the past several years, investing in minorities in companies like Boeing, META, Citigroup, Disney, and Bank of America. The PIF has been financing LIV Golf up to this point.<\/p>\n<p>The fund, which has a market value of over $650 billion, was established in 1971 with the primary objective of investing money on behalf of Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The PGA is a co-conspirator in the Saudi government\u2019s attempt to wash away our memory of 9\/11 and the assassination of a \u2066<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/washingtonpost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@washingtonpost<\/a>\u2069 journalist: PGA Tour and LIV Golf Agree to Merger: Live Updates &#8211; The New York Times <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SportsWashing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SportsWashing<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MgDFYQXHXV\">https:\/\/t.co\/MgDFYQXHXV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Frank Figliuzzi (@FrankFigliuzzi1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FrankFigliuzzi1\/status\/1666232753262673922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 6, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>USA Government Set To Investigate Into The merger<\/h2>\n<p>The chairman of a US Senate subcommittee has demanded documents from the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia&#8217;s LIV Golf on the discussions that resulted in their proposed merger.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic representative from Connecticut Richard Blumenthal wrote letters to Greg Norman, CEO of LIV, and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan on Monday.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">All Americans should be horrified.<\/p>\n<p>9\/11 Families Horrified by PGA-LIV Golf Saudi &#39;Sportswashing&#39; Deal <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/z2zUd8UoIK\">https:\/\/t.co\/z2zUd8UoIK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tom Williams (@tommyboy0690) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tommyboy0690\/status\/1666674667875102721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 8, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile few details about the agreement are known, PIF\u2019s role as an arm of the Saudi government and PGA Tour\u2019s sudden and drastic reversal of position concerning LIV Golf raise serious questions regarding the reasons for and terms behind the announced agreement,\u201d Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Monahan.<\/p>\n<h2>LIV Golf-PGA Merger Is An Attempt Of Sportswashing By Saudi?<\/h2>\n<p>The Saudi monarchy has taken several actions in recent years, including this one. Its growing vested interest in the sports industry is related to bin Salman&#8217;s alleged objective of modernizing and diversifying the oil-rich kingdom&#8217;s economy in preparation for a post-oil era. The investments, however, are essentially attempts to &#8220;sportswash,&#8221; according to critics, the country&#8217;s past of human rights crimes.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Saudi Arabia Executed Human Rights By Sportswashing! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PGAandLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PGAandLIV<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NBAFinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NBAFinals<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3qLrB3B51B\">pic.twitter.com\/3qLrB3B51B<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dalia &#8211; \u062f\u0627\u0644\u064a\u0627 (@Dalia__2000) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Dalia__2000\/status\/1668570464225042432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 13, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia have a lengthy history. These include violations of women&#8217;s rights, persecution of LGBTQ+ persons, restrictions on free expression, and a sharp rise in the use of the death sentence under bin Salman. That includes an all-day beheading in March 2022 that resulted in 81 deaths.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The U.S. Senate is probing the PGA Tour&#39;s merger with LIV Golf to form a new entity funded by Saudi Arabia&#39;s Public Investment Fund.<\/p>\n<p>This follows reporting by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OpenSecretsDC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@OpenSecretsDC<\/a> &amp; others raising questions about &quot;sportswashing,&quot; foreign influence &amp; disclosure. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/o1bzDmIs88\">https:\/\/t.co\/o1bzDmIs88<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Hyh1n6zLmk\">pic.twitter.com\/Hyh1n6zLmk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Anna Massoglia (@annalecta) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/annalecta\/status\/1668696376677416962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 13, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the Saudi government was charged with providing financial support for the 9\/11 terrorist attacks, a charge the country has refuted. A joint CIA-FBI file from 2004 found no proof the Saudi government was responsible for the attacks. However, more recent allegations from U.S. intelligence suggest that at least some Saudi officials knew about the attack plans and\/or had ties to the hijackers who crashed planes into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center twin towers. Of the 19 hijackers, 15 were Saudi nationals.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Saudi crown prince had hoped to use sportswashing as a strategy to turn the conversation away from his human rights abuses, but it has had the opposite effect, with the LIV-PGA golf merger sparking a flurry of news articles about his repression. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KbVItHBIgH\">https:\/\/t.co\/KbVItHBIgH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KenRoth\/status\/1668918855467409410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 14, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The CIA also concluded in 2021 that bin Salman gave the go-ahead for the murder of Jamal Kashoggi in Istanbul in October 2018.People who appealed for peace while Saudi Arabia and Qatar were at odds have been detained. Jamal Kashoggi, a Saudi dissident and writer for the Washington Post, was killed in cold blood by the government in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Women who requested the right to drive vehicles have been imprisoned.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In effect Saudi Arabia&#39;s government has just swallowed the sport of golf.<\/p>\n<p>The PGA and DP Tours abandoned their anti-LIV stance and capitulated to a hostile takeover.<\/p>\n<p>A staging post on the road from sportswashing to sports annexation. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4es561X7l1\">https:\/\/t.co\/4es561X7l1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_PaulHayward\/status\/1666166863695339521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 6, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Then, these factors may defeat Saudi Arabia&#8217;s goals. Investors might not want to put money into the nation. They won&#8217;t include the country in the Middle East on their list of &#8220;Top Travel Destinations.&#8221; And Saudi Arabia&#8217;s ambitious Vision 2030 plan to transition away from its reliance on oil and toward tourist and corporate earnings may encounter difficulties.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Newcastle fans are already turning into insufferable bellends, in denial about being a Saudi Arabia sportswashing project while maintaining they&#39;re &quot;back where they belong&quot; in the Champions league despite having only played 2 seasons of champions league football ever. Deluded.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Syelaw (@syelaw) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/syelaw\/status\/1663301764416786432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 29, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Therefore, it must provide a positive image. And the kingdom thinks that the greatest way to achieve this is via sports. Bit by bit!<\/p>\n<h2>Not the First Time Saudi Has Attempted Sportswashing<\/h2>\n<p>One of the greatest teams in English football, Newcastle United, was purchased by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund in 2021. Then, it persuaded footballing sensation Cristiano Ronaldo to sign with Al Nassr, a Saudi football team.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Turns out we\u2019re sportswashing Saudi Arabia lads. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/deyEqc7doV\">https:\/\/t.co\/deyEqc7doV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Martin (@megamarvatron) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/megamarvatron\/status\/1667485853164408834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 10, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Rumors surfaced in 2023 that it intended to acquire Formula 1 from its American owners. It didn&#8217;t develop into anything, but it continues to hold an annual race with some of the world&#8217;s top drivers tearing around its street course.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Saudi sportswashing getting Messi<\/p>\n<p>The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund \u2014 chaired by Crown Prince MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN \u2014 in 2021 took over Newcastle United, a Premier League club in England. The Saudis are behind LIV Golf. The kingdom will be home to the 2029 Asian Winter\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GcWT76P9r3\">pic.twitter.com\/GcWT76P9r3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; SALMA (@SALMMA1997) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SALMMA1997\/status\/1664968759600381954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In August 2019, details of a long-term motorsports facility in the Saudi city of Riyadh were made public. In November 2020, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was added to the F1 World Championship schedule, and the first event was held on December 5, 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, the race has been held annually, with Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Sergio Perez taking first, second, and third place, respectively.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just a little reminder of what kind of country <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#F1<\/a> is racing in this weekend. <\/p>\n<p>I am against sportswashing and I will not be watching the Saudi Arabian GP this weekend. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BoycottJeddahGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BoycottJeddahGP<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SaudiArabianGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SaudiArabianGP<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/DesignedbyH%C3%A9l%C3%A8ne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#DesignedbyH\u00e9l\u00e8ne<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/aYMFXPCLEo\">pic.twitter.com\/aYMFXPCLEo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; H\u00e9l\u00e8ne (@paintedblack) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/paintedblack\/status\/1636715128790872066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 17, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Then there were rumors that it intended to host the most lavish T20 cricket competition ever. larger than the IPL, yes. And even if it doesn&#8217;t succeed, it has managed to infiltrate the sporting world; if you watched the IPL, you probably saw advertisements for &#8220;Visit Saudi&#8221; ads each time the batsman struck a six.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/Colin1866\/status\/1648353325463531522?s=20<\/p>\n<p>Cristiano Ronaldo signs with Al-Nassr (Dec. 30, 2022)- Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps the most known athlete in the world, played for European teams throughout the whole of his professional career. These include Juventus (2018\u201321), Real Madrid (2009\u201318), and Manchester United once more (2021-22).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Blinders off now\u2014it&#39;s not just about one sport.<br \/>Sportswashing in progress, or else why would a certain crown prince be interested in so many fit young men? and golfers?<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DvxB5cPbSb\">https:\/\/t.co\/DvxB5cPbSb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; That&#39;s what it&#39;s all about, Charlie Brown (@ShamanNipples) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShamanNipples\/status\/1666265985106554882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Ronaldo surprised the globe by joining Al-Nassr of the Saudi Professional League for a whopping $211 million per year \u2014 including commercial deals \u2014 until 2025 after his second departure from Old Trafford.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the fact that the league receives the majority of its funding from the government&#8217;s investment arm, Greg Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf, has refuted accusations that it is a part of a Saudi sportswashing operation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what the Saudi government does. I don&#8217;t want to get into that,&#8221; he said in an interview with Sky Sports last summer. &#8220;&#8230; They&#8217;re not my bosses. We&#8217;re independent. I do not answer to Saudi Arabia.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In response to an email asking about its investment in LIV Golf and its assertion that it is sportswashing, the Public Investment Fund did not react right away.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE-\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Olympics Ski Jumper Patrick Gasienica Dies In A Motorcycle Crash\" href=\"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/olympics-ski-jumper-patrick-gasienica-dies-in-a-motorcycle-crash\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Olympics Ski Jumper Patrick Gasienica Dies In A Motorcycle Crash<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The PGA Tour and LIV Golf\u2019s \u201crivalry\u201d is ended following the two organizations\u2019 unexpected U-turn on Tuesday, when it appeared that their disagreements would be impossible to resolve. PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan revealed that he personally informed LIV Golf Tour CEO Greg Norman of the announcement. This merger added fuel to the &#8220;sportswashing&#8221; allegations on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":397601,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1584],"tags":[4798,9489,9490],"class_list":["post-426935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-golf","tag-golf-news","tag-liv-golf-pga-merger","tag-saudi-arabia-sportswashing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=426935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426935\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/397601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=426935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=426935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yebscore.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=426935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}