British politicians don’t want to talk about sportswashing

There are many British politicians who love to talk about sport. This makes you seem normal, grounded, and relevant to voters.

However, not many people seem to enjoy talking about the political aspect, especially the concept of “sportswashing” – when sports are used by countries to divert attention from concerns about issues such as human rights violations that sports may be involved in.

Research I recently published showed that British politicians are extremely reluctant to discuss this difficult topic. The term ‘sportswashing’ has been mentioned in the UK Parliament just 37 times since it was first mentioned in 2021 (this was in relation to the failed plan to split the European Super League).

Elsewhere, the idea of ​​sports washing has been widely discussed as (usually authoritarian) governments increasingly use sports investment as a form of global influence.

But even in 2022, which has been called sportswashing’s ‘biggest year’ due to the Qatar Men’s World Cup and the Beijing Winter Olympics, the term was mentioned only five times.

When the UK is home to some of the most high-profile events and teams accused of being linked to sportswashing, it may seem strange to hesitate to broach the topic.

For example, Manchester City in the Premier League is often cited as an example of sportswashing. The company is owned by Sheikh Mansour, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, which has come under heavy criticism for human rights issues.

Some have argued that this ownership turns the club’s fans into “proxy guardians of the UAE government and the Abu Dhabi royal family.” […] “It creates a halo effect where supporters associate their excitement for the club’s success with the ownership system.”

Likewise, the Gulf nation of Bahrain owns a Formula One McLaren team that is essentially based in the UK. Another Premier League team, Newcastle United, is majority owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

When the Saudi takeover was confirmed in October 2021, it was the subject of more than 400 newspaper articles worldwide that month, all of which used the term “sportswashing”. But despite the international attention and controversial agreement, British politicians decided it was not worth debating in the House of Commons.

No UK government minister has mentioned sportswashing in parliament other than confirming that the government has no official definition of the term. No official government documents or texts using the word, such as research and policy documents, consultations or press releases, can be found on the official UK government website.

Since the party came to power in July 2024, no Labor member has used the term in the House of Commons, even while legislation on football governance has been passed. However, parts of the bill are designed to strengthen the “fit and proper person” test for ownership of football clubs.

However, there was one debate in the Senate in March 2024, which may help explain why there has been so limited formal discussion. The exchange included references to the “benefits of inward investment” in the UK’s sports sector.

So perhaps the Conservative government of the time saw foreign investment in British sport as a positive development and paid no attention to its source.

human rights

Wider investments in other areas of the economy may also be considered. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2021 that relations between the two countries would be ‘damaged’ if the Premier League did not allow the takeover of Newcastle United.

Bin Salman previously said in an interview with Fox News that he was not concerned about such criticism, saying, “If sportswashing increases my GDP by 1%, we will continue to do sportswashing.”

The recent announcement of a £3.7 billion trade deal between the UK and six Gulf countries may also help explain the reluctance of British politicians to raise the issue of sportswashing.

Sports and politics continue to be deeply intertwined. This year’s Men’s Soccer World Cup is a representative example. Human rights groups have suggested the 2026 World Cup will be a “sportswashing bonanza” in the United States due to concerns over immigration and threats to press freedom.

Iranian soccer team before the match against the United States. EPA/Chris Torres

In this case, politics is never divorced from action on the ground. To name a few, a tournament referee from Somalia was denied entry to the United States, and the Iranian national team had to move its training base to Mexico as conflict in the Middle East intensified.

The debate over the relationship between politics and sport will therefore undoubtedly continue. However, political indifference to sporting issues often represents a strategic decision not to intervene.

Keir Starmer may have felt comfortable calling for the recent Champions League final to be broadcast free-to-air, or asking FIFA not to change the time of the match between Mexico and England.

But he, his government and many other politicians appear less willing to engage in more difficult discussions surrounding sport in Britain.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos