Letter to FIFA

Last week over 130 professional female players from 27 countries with over 2,700 caps between them have come together to call for an end to FIFA's sponsorship deal with Saudi Aramco.

Aramco is the world’s largest state-owned oil and gas company, playing a major role in fuelling the climate crisis. The oil giant is also 98.5% owned by Saudi Arabia, who have a track record of human rights violations against women and other minorities, including the LGBTQIA+ community.

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“As well as funding the Saudi regime, Aramco is one of the biggest polluters of the planet we all call home. In taking Aramco’s sponsorship, FIFA is choosing money over women’s safety and the safety of the planet - and that’s something we as players are standing against, together.”

"I’m proud to be part of this group of players. We’re standing alongside women like Manahel al-Otaibi and Salma al-Shehab who the Saudi regime has imprisoned simply for peaceful expression of equal rights...The safety of those women, the rights of women, LGBTQ+ rights and the health of the planet need to take a much bigger priority over FIFA making more money.”

Jessie Fleming,

Captain of Canadian National Women's Team with 132 caps

"I’m proud to be part of this group of players. We’re standing alongside women like Manahel al-Otaibi and Salma al-Shehab who the Saudi regime has imprisoned simply for peaceful expression of equal rights...The safety of those women, the rights of women, LGBTQ+ rights and the health of the planet need to take a much bigger priority over FIFA making more money.”

Becky Sauerbrunn,

Former Captain of US National Women’s Team with 217 caps

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

Sofie Junge Pedersen,

88 caps for Danish National Team

“This letter shows that as players this is what we don’t want to stand for and accept within women’s football. It’s simple: this sponsorship is contradicting FIFA’s own commitments to human rights and the planet.”

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

Vivianne Miedema,

120 caps for Dutch National Team

LIST OF SIGNATORIES

Signed in a personal capacity by 135 professional players:

Sofie Junge Pedersen Denmark (88 caps)

Tessel Middag Netherlands (44 caps)

Katie Rood New Zealand (15 caps)

Becky Sauerbrunn USA (217 caps)

Jessie Fleming Canada (132 caps)

Elena Linari Italy (105 caps)

Marta Torrejón Spain (90 caps)

Doris Bacic Croatia (84 caps)

Khalida Popal Afghanistan

Pernille Harder Denmark (154 caps)

Jane Ross Scotland (151 caps)

Linda Sällström Finland (139 caps)

Loes Geurts Netherlands (125 caps)

Tinja-Riikka Korpela Finland (123 caps)

Vivianne Miedema Netherlands (120 caps)

Erin McLeod Canada (119 caps)

Magdalena Eriksson Sweden (112 caps)

Lisa Evans Scotland (109 caps)

Diane Caldwell Ireland (102 caps)

Fridolina Rolfö Sweden (89 caps)

Sanni Franssi Finland (81 caps)

Erin Nayler New Zealand (68 caps)

Ayisat Yusuf Nigeria (68 caps)

Meikayla Moore New Zealand (67 caps)

Tabea Kemme Germany (47 caps)

Amber Barrett Ireland (46 caps)

Aivi Luik Australia (42 caps)

Daisy Cleverley New Zealand (39 caps)

Gabi Rennie New Zealand (36 caps)

Alex Chidiac Australia (32 caps)

Viktoria Pinther - Austria (31 caps)

Malia Steinmetz New Zealand (28 caps)

Liucija Vaitukaitytė Lithuania (28 caps)

Julia Tunturi Finland (27 caps)

Luna Gevitz Denmark (25 caps)

Ella Van Kerkhoven Belgium (24 caps)

Katja Schroffenegger Italy (20 caps)

Lily Agg Ireland (18 caps)

Ciara Grant Ireland (18 caps)

Niamh Charles England (16 caps)

Andrine Tomter Norway (16 caps)

Francesca Durante Italy (12 caps)

Paulina Krumbiegel Germany (11 caps)

Sarah Dyrehauge Denmark (9 caps)

Sinead Farrelly Ireland (8 caps)

Kathrine Larsen Denmark (5 caps)

Macey Leigh Fraser New Zealand (5 caps)

Sara Lindbak Hørte Norway (5 caps)

Sheila van den Bulk Netherlands (5 caps)

Emmi Siren Finland (4 caps)

Amalie Thestrup Denmark (4 caps)

Matilde Lundorf Skovsen Denmark (3 caps)

Emma Regan Canada (3 caps)

Emilía Kiær Ásgeirsdóttir Iceland (2 caps)

Christianna Kiamou Greece (2 caps)

Maitane Lopez Millan Spain (2 caps)

Rachele Baldi Italy (1 cap)

Emma Beckett Ireland (1 cap)

Samantha Chang Canada (1 cap)

Norma Cinotti Italy (1 cap)

Rhian Cleverly Wales (1 cap)

Sierra Cota-Yarde Portugal (1 cap)

Abbie Cusack Scotland (1 cap)

Cecilie Fløe Nielsen Denmark (1 cap)

Jeanne Hillion France (1 cap)

Kirsty Howat Scotland (1 cap)

Anna Koivunen Finland (1 cap)

Dana Leskinen Finland (1 cap)

Tecla Pettenuzzo Italy (1 cap)

Stephanie Ribeiro Portugal (1 cap)

Katrine Svane Jacobsen Denmark (1 cap)

Alma Aagaard Denmark

Joanna Aalstad Bækkelund Norway

Simone Andersen Denmark

Ella Beaton-Hill Scotland

Emilie Billing Denmark

Emilie Bølviken Norway

Daïna Bourma France

Amanda Brunholt Denmark

Emilie Byrnak Denmark

Ariella Cabezas Australia

Kyra Carusa Ireland

Mathilde Carstens Denmark

Claudia Cid Mexico

Matilde Copetti Italy

Agata Centasso Italy

Zalie Chaine France

Dakota Chan Canada

Isobel Dalton Australia

Kess Elmore England

Sophie French USA

Marie Gade Denmark

Marina Georgieva Austria

Ida Habbestad Norway

Winonah Heatley Australia

Ziva Henry Netherlands

Selma Hernes Norway

Kristin Holmen Norway

Marie Holmgaard Denmark

Emma Ilijoski Australia

Gillian Inglis Scotland

Julie Jensen Denmark

Emmy Jézéquel France

Iida Koivurinne Finland

Hannah Jordan Scotland

Elin Landström Sweden

Alexandra Larsson Sweden

Jenna Legg England

Martine Leonards Norway

Rosie Livingstone Scotland

Signe Markvardsen Denmark

Sofia Meneghini Italy

Mallie McKenzie USA

Meaghan Nally USA

Niamh Noble Scotland

Jaida Nyby USA

Marie Lynge Olesen Denmark

Dina Orschmann Germany

Lisa Pechersky Canada

Nyla Peterkin Canada-UK

Gabby Provenzano USA

Anja Rasmussen Norway

Elisa Rambaud France

Mathilde Rasmussen Denmark

Georgia Robert England

Viivi Spets Finland

Judith Steinert Germany

Lærke Tingleff Denmark

Arna Þráinsdóttir Denmark

Saana Tuomala Finland

Jill van den Ende Netherlands

Manon van Raay Netherlands

Sonia Vázquez Mexico

Amber Verspaget Netherlands

Olivia Wänglund Sweden

Add your name

What You Need to Know About Saudi Aramco

Background on Saudi Aramco

Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil and gas producer, is 98.5% owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It is the biggest contributor to global carbon emissions, with fossil fuels responsible for 90% of emissions worldwide.

Despite the urgent need to transition away from oil and gas, Aramco has no meaningful plans to phase out its production and continues to expand activities.

It invests less than 5% of its capital in clean energy and has been a major blocker at climate talks like COP.

Saudi Arabia is also one of the countries with the worst track record of lobbying against climate progress.

Human Rights in Saudi Arabia

Despite some recent reforms, Saudi Arabia continues to violate human rights, particularly regarding gender equality and freedom of expression.

Women like Manahel al-Otaibi have been imprisoned for things as simple as promoting female empowerment on social media, while others like Nourah al-Qahtani face long sentences for peaceful activism.

The country also has a male guardianship system in place, requiring all women to have a male guardian (normally their husband or family member). The regime's disobedience law allows male guardians to have women arrested for any perceived disobedience.

The LGBTQIA+ community also faces severe persecution, with same-sex relationships criminalised. There have been consistent reports of discrimination and violence in recent years, including murder, assault, harassment, and the denial of basic rights and services.

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Letter to FIFA

“As well as funding the Saudi regime, Aramco is one of the biggest polluters of the planet we all call home. In taking Aramco’s sponsorship, FIFA is choosing money over women’s safety and the safety of the planet - and that’s something we as players are standing against, together.”

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

“This letter shows that as players this is what we don’t want to stand for and accept within women’s football. It’s simple: this sponsorship is contradicting FIFA’s own commitments to human rights and the planet.”

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

LIST OF SIGNATORIES

CALL ON FIFA TO CUT TIES WITH SAUDI ARAMCO

As A Fan

As A Player

As A Player

As A Player

As A Player

As A Player

What You Need to Know About Saudi Aramco

Background on Saudi Aramco

Human Rights in Saudi Arabia

Add your name

If you are a past or present professional women's football player and would like to add your name to the letter, please provide the details set out below:

Athletes of the World

Letter to FIFA

“As well as funding the Saudi regime, Aramco is one of the biggest polluters of the planet we all call home. In taking Aramco’s sponsorship, FIFA is choosing money over women’s safety and the safety of the planet - and that’s something we as players are standing against, together.”

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

“This letter shows that as players this is what we don’t want to stand for and accept within women’s football. It’s simple: this sponsorship is contradicting FIFA’s own commitments to human rights and the planet.”

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

“Values are not just words to write on a page - you need to live them and stand by them. Ultimately, FIFA needs to stand by its set of values on human rights and sustainability, which they are not doing with this sponsorship."

LIST OF SIGNATORIES

CALL ON FIFA TO CUT TIES WITH SAUDI ARAMCO

As A Fan

As A Player

As A Player

As A Player

As A Player

As A Player

What You Need to Know About Saudi Aramco

Background on Saudi Aramco

Human Rights in Saudi Arabia

Add your name

If you are a past or present professional women's football player and would like to add your name to the letter, please provide the details set out below:

Athletes of the World

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