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Post by El Mel on May 17, 2022 18:20:32 GMT
So, we all know the Saudi government are behind the purchase of Newcastle United. The buyout of the club created a few ripples but generally it would seem that people are fairly accepting of the Saudi money coming into football.
Now this is a stark contrast to golf, where the Saudis are funding a new series of golf competetions, the format is different to the usual 4 day tournaments that operate on the conventional tours. Greg Norman is the man fronting the LIV series - Roman numerals for 54, which is how many holes the competetion will be played over - 3 days of 18 holes. There will be massive prize money available, and just 48 players, who will play for a singles prize, as well as a 4 man team event - again with big prize money.
It's been reported it will be streamed on You Tube so no subscription TV package to watch it.
However, the players who have been asked to play are having to submit release requests with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour (former European Tour). The PGA Tour - the US based tour and the premier series, have refused to grant any releases, so for any players attending the 1st LIV even in London net month, legal action could be waiting for them.
There's loads more to it than that, which we might get into if the thread develops, but what are peoples thoughts on Saudi money in sport - obviously the UK have massive arms deals with the country, and then there's the oil - we buy shitloads of it.
Do we accept it and ignore the human rights issues in Saudi, or should we take a moral stand against the country, and in particular Mohammed bin Salman - who we can refer to as MBS from here onwards.?
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Post by Deep Space on May 17, 2022 18:30:39 GMT
I don't totally understand that but am I right in thinking that they need PGA permission to play in this LIV competition? The PGA won't give it, so we have a bit of a Kerry Packer type situation where big money can steamroll over the traditional tours & we will end up either with a breakaway tour or simply the Saudis running the show?
As far as the human rights issue goes, I think there has to be a line that we should avoid crossing. No doubt there's a whataboutery argument that pretty well everywhere has some sort of human rights abuse going on, but the Saudis are well beyond any sort of norm as far as I'm concerned.
Not sure how this directly relates to NUFC although I suppose giving them a seat at the PL table will perhaps at least introduce a can of worms waiting for someone to open it.
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Post by El Mel on May 17, 2022 18:41:59 GMT
The PGA have contracts with the players, the players have to ask for a release - something which the PGA have granted on numerous occasions before - setting a legal precident I guess?
Greg Norman is a factor as well, he's been trying to bring down the PGA Tour for decades - they have something of a monopoly - it probably doesn't bother most Americans but when all the best players are only playing in America, it's difficult for worldwide TV audiences to watch them live. So the PGA dont like Norman, and he doesn't like them.
You're right about the whataboutery of course. I did a little research. A company called Sanabil Investments pump billions a year into growth markets and businesses - they are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. It only takes seconds to figure out that a lot of this money is propping up plenty of US bassed companies. So where's the difference between the Saudis funding a golf tournament, or the Saudis funding US business?
Lee Westwood brought NUFC into the debate last week, when he was pushed on his views on wanting to play in the LIV tournament in London in a few weeks, it's relevant, Saudi money buying public opinion by investing in sport.
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Post by foxtrot777 on May 18, 2022 11:53:40 GMT
Bottom line, money talks, very few sports will/can ignore the money that Saudi/UAE and Qatar are willing to invest. Most of us abhor the human rights of these Countries and rightly so but when it comes to sport we seem to be a bit more tolerant, the World cup being a prime example. I'm no better than anyone else, I'm a big horse racing fan and without the money from these places the sport in Britain would be in a much worse position, poorer quality horses, less prize money and no doubt many redundancies. I suppose we either have the moral high ground and refuse to deal with these Countries which of course would have financial implications or we continue to turn a blind eye, can't say I'm much of a golf fan but I will watch with interest.
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Post by El Mel on Jun 9, 2022 5:10:08 GMT
This event starts today, been a quite remarkable few days with some pretty big names in golf ditching the American based PGA Tour (so they can't take legal action against them) and joining the LIV series - for huge sums of money a few guys receiving well in excess of 100 million dollars just to sign up. Now I know you chaps aren't into golf, but I'll post the link to the You Tube page, if you get chance to watch any of it be interesting to know your thoughts compared to how you perceive golf - as part of the goal of the new series is to grow the game. Coverage starts at 2.30pm. www.youtube.com/channel/UCuC-Is0pVH9RudfZJw-LSmw |
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Post by captslapper on Jun 9, 2022 8:03:55 GMT
Saw Westwood and Poulter being asked by a journalist where they would draw the line on where they would play if the money was good enough.
If Putin was hosting a golf tournament would they play? If apartheid South Africa had held one, would they have played?
Their look of horror and embarrassment at the question was quite comical , as was their mumbling non answers.
I wish these people would just be more honest.
Just say they dont like the human rights infringements in SA, but even though theyre already multi millionaires the opportunity to feather their nests even further means they can ignore it all, because at the end of the day whilst they dont like it, theyre not that bothered by it either.
Not when theres incredible money to be made.
It would be easier to respect them as people if they were honest like that rather than the shuffling cringeworthy attempts to ignore and circumvent the issues.
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Post by santiagoterrier on Jun 9, 2022 14:09:30 GMT
The thing is hypocrisy or anomalies when it comes to money and wages are rife, across the board, think how much effort and resources the “Taxman” will put into going after a bloke on the dole who tops his money up with an undeclared window cleaning round but Amazon who declare they aren’t based in the U.K. for tax purposes, well that’s fine, what’s an extra £100M between friends.
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Post by chedtippington on Jun 9, 2022 14:35:16 GMT
How can peopl critisize sportsman if we traid with them and goevernment is happy with that ?
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Post by cissystrutt74 on Jun 9, 2022 18:25:19 GMT
How can peopl critisize sportsman if we traid with them and goevernment is happy with that ? Egsactly, nd wot boot sivel riits aboos Tut tut |
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Post by chedtippington on Jun 9, 2022 18:56:37 GMT
How can peopl critisize sportsman if we traid with them and goevernment is happy with that ? Egsactly, nd wot boot sivel riits aboos Tut tut Tek the piss the point still stands |
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Post by cissystrutt74 on Jun 9, 2022 21:51:33 GMT
Egsactly, nd wot boot sivel riits aboos Tut tut Tek the piss the point still stands Wot pis? Stel tri in 2 werk 0wt wot yor . waz |
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Post by santiagoterrier on Jun 10, 2022 6:29:37 GMT
I see Lee Westwood retweeted a photo of a naked man literally swimming in dollar bills a few months ago as part of his own personal anti SuperLeague stance in football, doesn’t look so good now he’s joined the golfing equivalent.
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Post by captslapper on Jun 10, 2022 8:45:39 GMT
I see Lee Westwood retweeted a photo of a naked man literally swimming in dollar bills a few months ago as part of his own personal anti SuperLeague stance in football, doesn’t look so good now he’s joined the golfing equivalent. Yeah theres a lot of hypocrisy on show over this from various sides. Sports and sportspeople get a lot of stick and scrutiny over these things but why focus on them? We ( the west in general ) do an enormous amount of business with Saudi Arabia, and particularly at the moment are 'in bed' with them as much as they'll let us over oil production and supply. A lot of the people sanctimoniously criticising golfers for playing in a SA backed tournament or NUFC would be the same people apoplectic about fuel prices and demanding they drop...something only our relationship and business with the likes of Saudi Arabia and UAE will achieve. Do these people really think we should have nothing to do with them.. because they do things we dont like to their own people?? When we're paying over £2 for a litre of fuel Im not sure Im that bothered myself...thats the sort of pragmatic honesty id like to hear from the golfers and those criticising them. The west ( the UK way more than most ) has this pious belief that 'these are our morals and attitudes.. ...and we want, nay insist, everyone else should have the same morals and attitudes as us. Id rather we concentrate on ensuring the people we have HERE live by the same morals and attitudes as us, never mind those living half a world away! Seriously, which is more damaging and dangerous to the UK and our society's morals, freedoms and attitudes?.. Saudi Arabia bumping off some journalist they dont like?...or gangs of religious fundamentalists in the UK getting films, books and lessons banned through intimidation and threats because they think theyre blasphemous? yet we bleat and piously whinge about the one that doesnt matter whilst turning a blind eye to the one that definitely does, even support it if theres votes to be gained or lost! |
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Post by chedtippington on Jun 10, 2022 10:28:53 GMT
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Post by cissystrutt74 on Jun 10, 2022 11:48:53 GMT
B0leckz! Wen eye repli 2 ur sh12 it teks twiis az loong az n0rm3l az eye av 2 fiit zpel chek al 't wai! |
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