The recent bankruptcy of the LIV golf circuit is a real wake-up call. Saudi Arabia, heavily impacted by the war in Iran in recent months, must imperatively review its priorities and reduce its so-called lavish spending. Particularly in leisure and sport.
If we judge the last off-season in the Saudi Pro League, the effects are already being felt. Apart from Al-Hilal who once again splurged by investing 205 million euros in the market – notably poaching Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal – most of the elite clubs remained relatively reasonable this summer. Starting with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, who settled for a ticket of 22 million euros.
“ Everyone thought Saudi money was unlimited. This is literally not the case, the LIV is the example and it certainly won’t be the only one. We must expect that there will be privatization and real differences on everything that is investment in the Saudi Pro League and in all other areas », notes this Thursday Jean-Baptiste GuĂ©gan, specialist in geopolitics of sport requested by RMC.
Qatar soon forced to make the same sacrifices?
“ Continuing to have disproportionate projects in sport in a context where you have war on your doorstep is not the best strategy “, continues the person concerned, emphasizing the weight of public opinion worried about the political orientations of Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salmane who must above all now ” secure the maritime facades » of the country and prevent the “ strategic and systemic risk “.
“ Probably, in the long term, Saudi investments in football will be more reasoned, more reasonable », concludes Jean-Baptiste GuĂ©gan, even if the kingdom, future host of the 2034 World Cup, cannot afford to “ sacrificing an asset after having built its value “. A postulate which also applies to Qatar, faced with the same geopolitical issues of the moment and which has invested a lot in football in recent years through PSG.
