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Fans of Newcastle United stand outside a stadium in St. James' Park holding the Saudi flag
Image: Owen Humphreys/PA/dpa/picture alliance

Sportswashing

Sportswashing aims to blur the line between sports, politics, and propaganda, raising questions about the genuine motives behind the funding of sports events or clubs.

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All Content on this topic

Bayern Munich fans holds up a large banner as the team plays on the pitch

Bayern Munich silent on Rwanda as pressure grows

Months after promising to investigate a deal with Rwanda labeled as "responsible for misery," Bayern have done nothing.
SportsApril 23, 2025
Naomi Osaka holding a tennis ball.

Paid maternity leave in tennis – courtesy of Saudi Arabia

From now on, professional tennis players are to receive paid maternity leave – and Saudi Arabia is picking up the tab.
SportsMarch 7, 2025
Donald Trump salutes the American flag laid out on the field during the 2025 Super Bowl

Sports and politics

While many claim that politics and sports should be kept separate, in practice they often intersect.
SportsFebruary 27, 2025
Iga Swiatek serves during a match at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Women's sport in focus after latest HRW report

A new Human Rights Watch report shows how Saudi Arabia is using sports to paper over links to human rights abuses.
SportsNovember 21, 2024
Ballet students from the Kibera-based Project Elimu perform during a public show in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya on August 14, 2024

How can Africa counter negative portrayals?

There's more to Africa than media portray. An NGO is working to change the story to reflect Africa's true potential.
PoliticsNovember 2, 2024
FIFA President Gianni Infantino in conversation ahead of a Saudi Women's Premier League football match

Female footballers speak out against FIFA-Saudi deal

In an open letter, more than 100 players have criticized FIFA's cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia.
SportsOctober 22, 2024
DW Totale Englisch der DW-Sendung "to the point"

Germany hosts Euro 2024: Kicking its way out of the crisis?

Can Germany’s national football team unite a divided country and lift the nation’s spirits?
SportsJuly 4, 202426:04 min
Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud

The princess at the center of Saudi Arabia's sporting web

Saudi Arabia's grip on the sporting world is tightening by the day. Meet the woman in the inner circle.
SportsNovember 1, 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo

Why is Saudi Arabia investing billions in sports?

Is Saudi Arabia's mega sports investment economic diversification or sportswashing, or a bit of both?
BusinessSeptember 18, 202321:10 min
President of Al Nassr Musalli Al-Muammar (right) with new signing Cristiano Ronaldo at a press conference

Are Middle East investments in the West a threat?

From football clubs to phone companies, Gulf Arab states are on an investment binge, thanks to high oil prices.
BusinessSeptember 11, 2023
A vehicle passes under a billboard showing Cristiano Ronaldo with Arabic wording which reads, Welcome Ronaldo, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia: Will football stars have a political impact?

World famous soccer stars are bringing extra scrutiny to more than Saudi Arabia's big-spending football league.
PoliticsSeptember 10, 2023
A man with a Saudi Arabian headdress pases by the ground before an English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur

Sportswashing: Manchester, Newcastle 'easy' targets — report

A new report details how the takeovers of Manchester City and Newcastle United were facilitated by local politicians.
SoccerJune 23, 2023
Manchester City players raise their arms as fireworks light the background behind them

Sportswashing in 2023: Can it be stopped?

Sportswashing is once again the hot topic. DW explains what it is and what, if anything, can be done to stop it.
SportsJune 13, 2023
Phil Mickelson putting

Trump celebrates, Amnesty concerned after LIV, PGA merger

Once bitter rivals, the PGA and the Saudi-bankrolled LIV series are set to strike out on a common path.
SportsJune 8, 2023
A Saudi football fan supporting his national team during a game against Argentina during the 2022 World Cup

Saudi Arabia's sports binge seeks economic dividend

After years of relentless spending, Saudi Arabia is now a central player in the world's most lucrative sports.
BusinessMay 11, 2023
A man with a Saudi head cover passes the ground before an English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James' Park

Saudis accused of sportswashing over English football funds

Saudi Arabia, along with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, are investing huge sums into English football clubs.
SoccerApril 22, 202304:49 min
Sprengung von Geldautomat

Focus on Europe—Spotlight on People

ATMs across Germany are being blown up by organized crime gangs.
SocietyApril 20, 202326:05 min
A picture of Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe

Manchester United deal: Is Jim Ratcliffe the white knight?

The Manchester United takeover saga has moved on, with billionaire Jim Ratcliffe buying 25% of the club. But who is he?
BusinessMarch 2, 2023
President of Al Nassr Musalli Al-Muammar with new signing Cristiano Ronaldo during the press conference

Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia: bigger off the pitch than on

The Middle East is back at the center of the football world with Saudi club Al Nassr's signing of Christiano Ronaldo.
SoccerJanuary 11, 2023
Kommentarbild Matt Pearson

Opinion: Banners show sportswashing is stalling

Matt Pearson
Fans across Germany protested against the Qatar World Cup this weekend. The sportswashing strategy isn't quite working.
SoccerNovember 6, 2022
A reporter raises his hand to ask Liz Truss a question during a Downing Street press conference

'Permacrisis' is the UK's word of the year for 2022

Collins Dictionary announced that permacrisis, partygate, and quiet quitting were the words that summed up the year.
CultureNovember 1, 2022
Newcastle fan holds a Saudi Arabia flag

Newcastle following in Manchester City and PSG's footsteps

Has a three-way battle for supremacy in the Arab states now moved to European football pitches?
SoccerSeptember 21, 2022
Inside the Stade de France ahead of the Champions League Final

Liverpool, Real offer nostalgia but sportwashing looms

Two of the three most successful clubs in European history meet in the final. But state-owned clubs loom large.
SoccerMay 27, 2022
Roman Abramovich applauds with a Chelsea football scarf around his neck

Chelsea for sale as spotlight falls on Russian money trail

Roman Abramovich has put Premier League club Chelsea up for sale as Russia's involvement in world sport is scrutinized.
SportsMarch 2, 2022
Foreign construction workers queue up for the bus back to their accommodation camp in Doha

Norway football club launches kit to highlight Qatar abuses

Norwegian football club Tromso IL has released a jersey with a QR code link to highlight human rights concerns.
Human RightsDecember 6, 2021
Kylian Mbappe

PSG vs. City: Not just a football match

In the eyes of their owners, PSG and Manchester City are little more than an extension of the nation-state.
SoccerSeptember 28, 2021
Lionel Messi and Nasser Al-Khelaifi at a press conference

Messi, PSG, FFP, Qatar and where football goes from here

PSG's signing of Lionel Messi sent shockwaves around the world but add fuel to the burning issue of financial controls.
SoccerAugust 12, 2021
How rich regimes are ruining football

How rich regimes are ruining football

Sports Life explains how state-owned companies use football for their own, and their home country's, profit.
SportsFebruary 2, 202112:35 min
Ruiz Jr v Anthony Joshua - Press Conference - Riyadh -- December 4, 2019.

Saudi sportswashing: Ruiz and Joshua face off in Diriyah

The heavyweight rematch between Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua takes place in Saudia Arabia on Saturday.
SportsDecember 5, 2019