FIFA’s appointment of Saudi state-owned oil firm Aramco as the World Cup’s official “energy partner” has triggered fresh accusations of sportswashing. The company, recognised as the world’s single largest corporate polluter, faces criticism that its sponsorship represents an attempt to embed fossil fuel interests within global football culture.
The Sportswashing Strategy
Critics argue that such partnerships serve a strategic purpose beyond marketing. By positioning fossil fuel companies as essential backers of beloved cultural institutions, these deals aim to make carbon-intensive industries appear indispensable to modern life. This process helps delay the transition to renewable energy by normalising continued fossil fuel dependency. Saudi Arabia has historically resisted aggressive climate change targets in international negotiations, adding political weight to concerns about the arrangement.
From Factories to Petrostates
Football’s relationship with industrial capital spans three distinct eras. The sport initially developed alongside British industrialisation, with factory owners using the game to structure workers’ leisure time. The traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off originated from the Factory Act of 1850, which granted workers Saturday afternoons free from 2pm onwards.
The post-war period saw clubs in industrial cities dominate, with ties to car manufacturers such as Fiat at Juventus and Volkswagen at Wolfsburg. During the 1970s and 1980s, a period of relative equality saw European finals contested between smaller clubs from less prominent cities, such as Malmö. However, the modern era of globalisation has shifted power toward petrostate investment. Since the creation of the Champions League and Premier League in the early 1990s, European football has become increasingly concentrated among wealthy elites.
The Petrodollar Path
Only three clubs outside the original elite group have won the Champions League since its expansion. All three achieved success through significant petrodollar investments. Chelsea rose to prominence under Roman Abramovich, Manchester City through investment by Sheikh Mansour of the United Arab Emirates royal family, and Paris Saint-Germain via Qatar Sports Investments.
This pattern has effectively narrowed the path to the top for smaller clubs. Bankruptcy has become increasingly common for teams unable to secure comparable backing, while the concentration of fossil capital in elite football continues to grow. As the sport prepares for future tournaments, the tension between commercial partnerships and environmental accountability continues to mount.