Amnesty International said Cristiano Ronaldo’s signing with Al Nassr is part of a “wider pattern of sportswashing” in Saudi Arabia.

 

Ronaldo’s entry comes against the backdrop of a Saudi push into sports including golf, boxing, tennis and F1 as well as football, following the takeover of Newcastle United in 2021.

 

The Gulf nation is also mulling a joint bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup.

 

“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,” said Dana Ahmed, Amnesty’s Middle East researcher.

 

“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.”