'You want FIFA to respond' - Lily Agg explains Saudi sponsorship stance

Lily Agg says she had no hesitation about joining protestations against FIFA's sponsorship agreement with a Saudi Arabian oil company.

Agg is among a group of over 100 professional female footballers who signed an open letter to FIFA last month urging the governing body to end its partnership with oil and gas conglomerate Saudi Aramco. Her Republic of Ireland teammates Diane Caldwell and Kyra Carusa also added their signatures.

Back in April, Aramco agreed a deal to become a worldwide partner for the 2026 men's World Cup and the Women's World Cup in Brazil the following year.

There has been a strong backlash to that development.

"I think we have a platform," Agg said when asked about her reasons for getting involved.

"I’m someone who is quite direct, I’m more than happy to speak up about things that I believe in. When I was approached by Diane (Caldwell) in regards to that, it’s something that I do not have a problem at all putting my name forward for.

"I think it obviously shows a bit of courage, because we often worry about the repercussions of doing things like that, but we have a platform and I believe we should (stand) up and stay true to things that we believe in. That’s what I've done."

When asked to expand on her reasons for putting her name to the letter, Agg said: "Just in terms of the background for women’s rights, especially in Saudi. I think we’re sheltered from quite a lot that goes on.

"For us, as players, as I said, I think it’s important that we highlight these things. People can do their own research into what goes on within that, but it’s something that after discussion with some of my teammates and other players, I felt I wanted to stick up for.

"You want FIFA to respond. We haven’t had a response as of yet,