Amnesty International has advised Cristiano Ronaldo to use his platform to condemn Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations.
Ronaldo, 37, has agreed to a lucrative contract extension with Saudi club Al Nassr until 2025, reportedly worth more than £177 million per year.
According to Amnesty International, Ronaldo’s signing by the Saudi club is part of a “wider pattern of sports washing.”
On Tuesday, as he was introduced by Al Nassr, the Portuguese striker called Saudi Arabia a “wonderful country.”
Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in sporting events, including financial support for the independent LIV Golf Series, hosting world championship boxing matches, and hosting a Formula One Grand Prix. The nation’s Public Investment Fund also backed a takeover of Premier League club Newcastle United in 2021.
Despite some reforms implemented by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, such as lifting the ban on women driving, Saudi Arabia has been accused of violating human rights, and activists for women’s rights have been imprisoned.
While the crown prince denied ordering the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, Western intelligence services believe he did.
Amnesty’s Middle East researcher Dana Ahmed said:
Instead of offering uncritical praise of Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo should use his considerable public platform to draw attention to human rights issues in the country.
Saudi Arabia regularly executes people for crimes including murder, rape, and drug smuggling. On a single day last year, 81 people were put to death, many of whom were tried in grossly unfair trials.
The authorities are also continuing their crackdown on freedom of expression and association, with heavy prison sentences handed down to human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, and other political activists.
Cristiano Ronaldo should not allow his fame and celebrity status to become a tool of Saudi’s sports washing. He should use his time at Al Nassr to speak out about the myriad of human rights issues in the country.