More than a hundred international women's soccer players are calling on FIFA to reconsider its sponsorship by Saudi Arabian oil company Saudi Aramco, which is majority state-owned, in an open letter to FIFA's president.
Calling it a "middle finger to women's soccer," the 106 players who signed the letter say Saudi Arabia's human rights violations, particularly against women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, go against the sport's values of equality and inclusion.
The athletes' letter, sent to CBC News in advance of its official release, emphasizes that gay players, "many of whom are heroes of our sport," are particularly at risk of persecution in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is considered a crime.
The players also raise concerns about the oil company's environmental impact. Saudi Aramco is the largest oil producer in the world.