Sportswashing

A form of propaganda, sportswashing can be accomplished through hosting sporting events, purchasing, or sponsoring sporting teams, or participating in a sport.

At the international level, it is believed that sportswashing has been used to direct attention away from poor human rights records and corruption scandals. At the individual and corporate levels, it is believed that sportswashing has been used to cover up vices, crimes, and scandals. Sportswashing is an example of reputation laundering.

 

Internationally, sportswashing has been described as part of a country's soft power. The first usage of the term "sportswashing" may have been applied to Azerbaijan and its hosting of the 2015 European Games in Baku.

Officials and organizations accused of sportswashing^[which?], in recent years gulf states have been the most vocal to push back against these claims, often arguing that they simply want to enjoy sporting events in their home countries, or to engage in new investments. These accused parties often say that sporting boycotts and event relocation are both unfair to sporting fans and are ineffective in changing government policy, in the case of F1 the league has even argued that "the sport is better able to effect change by visiting these countries and holding them to commitments they have made that are legally binding."^{[unreliable source?]} The 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia has been cited as an example to tackle the country's global reputation, which was low due to its foreign policy and the sporting event changed the focus of discussions to the success of the World Cup.

Companies have also been accused of sportswashing include Ineos' sponsorship of professional cycling's Team Sky (now the Ineos Grenadiers) in 2019, and Arabtec's sponsorship of Manchester City F.C.

A key characteristic of sportswashing is the very costly efforts parties must undertake as it is not just about getting the rights to an event but building the infrastructure to hold these games. For example, leading up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup the host country Qatar, the smallest country to ever host the World Cup, invested around $220 billion into luxury accommodations, expanded transport networks, and stadiums to prepare. In March 2021, human rights organization Grant Liberty said that Saudi Arabia alone has spent at least $1.5 billion on its own alleged sportswashing activities.

Basketball

 

• The 1978 FIBA World Championship, held in the Philippines under Ferdinand Marcos.
• The 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, held in Venezuela.
• The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, held in China.
• The 2021 BAL season, held in Rwanda.
• The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, held partially in the Philippines under Ferdinand Marcos' son Bongbong.
• The 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, held in Qatar
• NBA hosting pre-season games in UAE since 2022.

Boxing

• The 1973 light heavyweight boxing match between South African Pierre Fourie and American Bob Foster, held in Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa during the apartheid era.
• The 1974 undisputed world heavyweight title match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, known as The Rumble in the Jungle, held in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) during the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko.
• The 1975 world heavyweight title trilogy match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, known as Thrilla in Manila, held in Quezon City, Philippines during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.
• The 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships held in Qatar.
• The 2019 world heavyweight title rematch between Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua, known as Clash on The Dunes, held in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

Cycling

• Vuelta a Venezuela held since 1963.
• Vuelta a Cuba held in 1964–2010.
• Vuelta al Táchira held in Venezuela since 1966.
• Tour of Qatar held in 2002–2016.
• Tour of Beijing held in 2011–2014.
• Dubai Tour held in 2014–2018.
• Abu Dhabi Tour held in 2015–2018.
• 2016 UCI Road World Championships held in Qatar.
• Tour of Guangxi held since 2017.
• UAE Tour held since 2019
• Tour Femenino de Venezuela held in 2019.
• Tour of Oman held since 2020.
• The 2025 UCI Road World Championships scheduled to be held in Rwanda.

Cricket

• The 1996 Cricket World Cup held in Sri Lanka.
• The 2003 Cricket World Cup held in Zimbabwe.
• The 2023 Cricket World Cup held in India.

Association football tournaments

 

• The 1934 FIFA World Cup held during the rule of Benito Mussolini in Italy.
• The 1964 European Nations' Cup held in Spain under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.
• The 1978 FIFA World Cup held in Argentina under a military dictatorship.
• The 1988 AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar.
• The 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship held in Qatar.
• The 2002 Supercoppa Italiana between Juventus and Parma held in Libya under Muammar Gaddafi.
• The 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup held in China (initially awarded the 2003 bid but moved to the United States due to SARS).
• The 2007 Copa América held in Venezuela.
• The 2011 AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar.
• The 2013 Trophée des Champions between Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux held in Gabon.
• The 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil.
• The 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia.
• The Supercoppa Italiana held two controversial football matches in Saudi Arabia:
  • The 2018 Supercoppa Italiana between Juventus and AC Milan held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • The 2019 Supercoppa Italiana between Juventus and S.S. Lazio held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

 

• The 2019 UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea and Arsenal held in Azerbaijan
• The 2019 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup were both held in Qatar.
• The Supercopa de España held football matches in Saudi Arabia:
  • 2019–2020 Supercopa de España held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • 2021–2022 Supercopa de España held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • 2022–2023 Supercopa de España and 2023–24 Supercopa de España were both held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• The Euro 2020 held in 11 countries, including three with poor human rights record:
  • Group B, Group E, and quarter-finals held in Saint Petersburg, Russia
  • Group F and round of 16 held in Budapest, Hungary
  • Group A and quarter-finals held in Baku, Azerbaijan
• The 2021 Copa América held in Brazil.
• The 2021 Diego Maradona tribute match between FC Barcelona and Boca Juniors dubbed as "Maradona Cup" held in Saudi Arabia.
• The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations held in Cameroon.
• The 2022 Trophée des Champions between Paris Saint-Germain and Nantes also held in the same place as last season.
• The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
  • The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup; Saudi Arabia tried to be the sponsor, but after a series of outrage, it pulled out.
• The 2023 AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar (originally to have been held in China)
• The 2023 FIFA Club World Cup held in Saudi Arabia
• The 2027 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia
• The 2034 FIFA World Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia

Esports

• The 2019 BLAST Pro Series Finals held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
• Danish esports organization, RFRSH Entertainment and Riot Games both signing a deal to develop Saudi Arabia's NEOM project and boost esports in the region. Riot ended up scrapping the partnership after facing intense backlash from fans and their employees.
• The 2022 and 2023 Blast Premier World Finals held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
• The Gamers8 2023 CS:GO tournament held in Riyadh Saudi Arabia

Golf

• PGA Tour China held since 2014.
• China Tour held in 2014–2019.
• Saudi International held since 2019.
• Aramco Team Series held since 2020.
• Aramco Saudi Ladies International held since 2020.
• LIV Golf Invitational Series funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, beginning in 2022.

Motorsport

Formula One

 

 

• Spanish Grand Prix held from 1951 to 1975
• Argentine Grand Prix held from 1953 to 1981
• Portuguese Grand Prix held from 1958 to 1960
• South African Grand Prix held from 1960 to 1985
• Mexican Grand Prix held since 1962
• Brazilian Grand Prix held from 1972 to 1984
• Malaysian Grand Prix held from 1999 to 2017
• Bahrain Grand Prix held since 2004
• Chinese Grand Prix held since 2004
• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix held since 2009
• Russian Grand Prix held from 2014 to 2021
• 2016 European Grand Prix held in Baku, Azerbaijan
• Azerbaijan Grand Prix held since 2017
• Turkish Grand Prix held in 2020 and 2021
• Qatar Grand Prix held since 2021
• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix held since 2021

Formula E

• Beijing ePrix held in 2014–2015.
• Putrajaya ePrix held in 2014–2015.
• Moscow ePrix held in 2015.
• Diriyah ePrix held since 2018.
• Sanya ePrix held in 2019.
• Jakarta ePrix held since 2022.

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

• Argentine motorcycle Grand Prix held in 1981–1982.
• South African motorcycle Grand Prix held in 1983–1985.
• Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix held since 1991.
• Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix held in 1996–1997 and since 2022.
• Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix held since 2004.
• Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix held since 2018.

Rally

• Rally Argentina held in 1980 and 1981
• Rally of Brazil held in 1981 and 1982
• Rally Indonesia held in 1996 and 1997
• Rally China held in 1999
• Rally of Turkey held from 2003 to 2006 then 2008 and 2010 and again from 2018 until 2020
• Jordan Rally held in 2008 and from 2010 until 2011
• The Dakar Rally held in Saudi Arabia since 2020.

Touring car racing

• FIA WTCR Race of Bahrain held in 2022.
• FIA WTCR Race of Saudi Arabia held in 2022.

Olympic Games

 

• The 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Nazi Germany.
• The 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.
• The 1988 Summer Olympics held in military-led Seoul, South Korea.
• The 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, China.
• The 2014 Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Russia.
• The 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• The 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing, China.

Rugby Union

 

Rugby Union tours involving South Africa during the Apartheid era:

• The 1949, 1960, 1970, 1976 New Zealand tours to South Africa
• The 1951–1952, 1960–1961, 1965, 1969–1970 South African tours to Britain and Ireland
• The 1952, 1961, 1968, 1974 South Africa tours to France
• The 1953, 1961, 1963, 1969 Australia tours to South Africa
• The 1955, 1962, 1968, 1974, 1980 British & Irish Lions tours to South Africa
• The 1956, 1965, 1971 South Africa tours to Australia
• The 1956, 1965, 1981 South Africa tours to New Zealand
• The 1958, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1980 France tours to South Africa
• The 1960 Scotland tour to South Africa
• The 1964 Wales tour to South Africa
• The 1965, 1971 Argentina tours to South Africa both with tests against the South African Gazelles
• The 1972, 1984 England tours to South Africa
• The 1973 Italy tour to South Africa
• The 1980 South African tour to South America
• The 1980, 1982 and 1984 South American Jaguars tours to South Africa
• The 1981 Ireland tour to South Africa
• The unofficial 1986 New Zealand tour to South Africa

Tennis

• South Africa Open during the apartheid period (1948–1994).
• 1972 Federation Cup held in apartheid South Africa.
• 1974 Davis Cup held in apartheid South Africa.
• Dubai Tennis Championships held since 1993.
• ATP Qatar Open held since 1993.
• WTA Qatar Open held since 2001.
• China Open held since 2004.
• Wuhan Open held since 2014.
• Diriyah Tennis Cup held since 2019.
• Next Generation ATP Finals, being held in Saudi Arabia between 2023 and 2027.

Professional wrestling

• Collision in Korea held in Pyongyang, North Korea in 1995.
• WWE in Saudi Arabia from 2014; in particular, Saudi Arabia hosting two Premium Live Events each year (one under the name of WWE Crown Jewel) since 2018.

Other events

 

• Some of UFC matches are held in China, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Proposed NFL games in China, including the China Bowl.
• The 1986 Commonwealth Games held in Scotland.
• The 1991 Pan American Games held in Cuba.
• The 2006 Asian Games held in Qatar.
• The 2014 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships held in Belarus.
• The 2015 European Games held in Azerbaijan.
• The 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games held in Turkmenistan.
• The Women's World Chess Championship 2017 held in Iran.
• The 2019 Winter Universiade held in Russia.
• The 2019 European Games held in Belarus.
• The 2019 Military World Games held in China.
• The 2019 Southeast Asian Games held in The Philippines.
• The 2021 Summer World University Games held in China after a 2-year delay from its original dates.
• The World Chess Championship 2021 held in the United Arab Emirates.
• The 2022 Gay Games held in Hong Kong after a year delay from its original dates.
• The 2022 World Aquatics Championships held in Budapest.
• The 2022 Asian Games held in China after a year delay from its original dates.
• The 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games held in El Salvador.
• The 2024 World Masters of Snooker tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia.
• The 2030 Asian Games scheduled to be held in Qatar.
• The 2034 Asian Games scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia.

Association football

• Russian state-owned oil company Gazprom's sponsorship of the German Bundesliga football team Schalke 04, events of the UEFA Champions League and kits. This contract was cancelled due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• Russian holding company USM Holdings Limited's sponsorship of Everton. The company is owned by Alisher Usmanov, a pro-Kremlin businessman.

 

• Russian flag carrier Aeroflot's sponsorship of Manchester United. The sponsorship was ended following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• Qatar Airways' sponsorships of football teams, including FC Barcelona, A.S. Roma, Boca Juniors, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich.
• Qatar's Hamad International Airport's sponsorship of Bayern Munich from 2018 to 2023.
• Bahrain's flag carrier Gulf Air's sponsorships of Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.
• The Azerbaijan tourism authority's sponsorship of Atlético Madrid.
• Hong Kong-based insurance company AIA Group sponsorship of English football club Tottenham Hotspur. AIA Group endorsed the Hong Kong national security law in 2020, which was condemned by several British politicians who demanded the club to drop the sponsorship.
• The Rwanda tourism authority's sponsorship of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
• The Saudi Tourism Authority's sponsorship of the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup under the Visit Saudi branding.

Australian rules football

• Brunei's flag carrier Royal Brunei Airlines' sponsorship deal with AFL Europe in 2014. The sponsorship deal ended the same year after protests from rights groups.

Cycling

• Shell oil company's major partnership with British Cycling in 2022.

Golf

• The Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund sponsored the LIV Golf in 2021. Human rights organizations criticized Saudi Arabia for sportwashing its image through the tournament. Human Rights Watch also wrote a letter to LIV Golf urging the league to adopt a strategy that would minimize the risk of reputation laundering by the Saudi Arabian government.

Motorsport

• Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA's sponsorship of Formula One driver Pastor Maldonado, who raced for Williams Grand Prix Engineering in 2011–2013 and Lotus F1 in 2014–2015. The PDVSA logo was included on both teams' car decals during those periods.
• Citgo, oil company owned by Venezuelan PDVSA sponsorship of numerous NASCAR teams such as Wood Brothers Racing and Roush Racing. Citgo also sponsored individual drivers such as Milka Duno who raced in 24 Hours of Daytona and E. J. Viso who raced in IndyCar Series
• Chinese state-owned broadcaster CCTV's sponsorship of Jordan Grand Prix Formula One team in 2003.
• Saudi Arabia State-owned oil company Aramco's sponsorship of the Aston Martin F1 Team, as well as Formula One races.
• Saudi Arabian flag carrier Saudia's sponsorship of Formula One teams Williams Grand Prix Engineering from 1977 to 1984 and Aston Martin in 2023.
• The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund-backed Neom sponsorship of the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team and McLaren's Formula E and Extreme E teams.
• The Formula One team Haas F1 Team was sponsored by Uralkali, who also sponsors Haas' Russian driver Nikita Mazepin. Haas had severed ties with Uralkali and Mazepin due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Association football

Domestic teams:

• Italian media proprietor Silvio Berlusconi, through his Fininvest holding, owned Serie A club A.C. Milan in 1986 and had 98% of the club's share until 2017. Berlusconi gained popularity in the country using his team's success, strongly supported by his own mass media including Mediaset, to improve public opinion, which was useful for his political purposes. Berlusconi founded Forza Italia, a centre-right party, and in 1994 became Prime Minister of Italy. During more than two decades of government divided into four periods, he was involved in abuse of office, bribery, corruption of public personnel, and false accounting cases, as well as sex scandals, among other controversies surrounding Berlusconi. He proposed and approved many ad personam laws (a type of clientelism) in favour of his own business, including the Milanese club as the Lentini affair in 1995, the Decreto Salva Calcio in 2003, which allowed Milan to be relieved its debt of € 242 million, and the decriminalisation of false accounting during the second Berlusconi government, a charge for which his club and local rival FC Internazionale Milano were tried and acquitted five years later due that measure; obtaining political support from the Milan fanbase, one of the largest in the country. In 2018, after he sold Milan to Chinese businessman Li Yonghong, Berlusconi, through Fininvest,^{[clarification needed]} owned AC Monza, a club that then competed in the national Serie C, with 100% of the club's shares.^{[clarification needed]}

Foreign ownership:

• Russian politician and businessman Roman Abramovich's ownership of Chelsea F.C. (2003–2022), which some have reported was done at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• Russian pro-Kremlin businessman Alisher Usmanov formally owned partial shares of Arsenal F.C.
• Abu Dhabi majority ownership of City Football Group. In 2015, the Abu Dhabi United Group announced consortium with Chinese state-owned CITIC Group for City Football Group, an entity which in turn owns
  • Manchester City F.C. (since 2008)
  • Melbourne City FC
  • Montevideo City Torque
  • New York City FC,
  • Yokohama F. Marinos,
  • Girona FC,
  • Shenzhen Peng City F.C. (partially).
  • Mumbai City FC (partially).
• Saudi prince Abdullah bin Musaid Al Saud ownership of Sheffield United.

 

• The purchase of Newcastle United F.C., 80% financing provided by Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund; this was "a blatant example of Saudi sportswashing", according to Kate Allen of Amnesty International UK.
• Kingdom of Bahrain 20% stake purchase of French football club Paris FC. The purchase was condemned by French-based human rights NGOs.
• Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ruler of Qatar, purchasing French football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2011.
• Controversial Indonesian conglomerate Bakrie Group ownership of Australian football club Brisbane Roar FC. In 2019, formed team administrator Joko Driyono was arrested by the Indonesian national police for destroying the evidence of match-fixing scandal.
• Washington Spirit's 2020 cultural exchange with Qatar.

Basketball

• Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov ownership of NBA team Brooklyn Nets. Prokhorov was known to be a close ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2017, Prokhorov sold the team which was alleged to have been a request from Putin. The team was later bought by Hong Kong businessman Joe Tsai. Tsai was previously criticized for his praise of China's restrictions on personal freedoms and expressing his support of Hong Kong national security law.

Cricket

• Indian fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya ownership of cricket team Royal Challengers Bangalore who competed in Indian Premier League. Indian Enforcement Directorate accused Mallya ownership of the team to be part of Mallya's money laundering scheme.
• The South Africa national cricket team held numerous tours dubbed as South African rebel tours around 1982–1990, defying sporting bodies' sanctions of numerous South African sport teams for participating in international sporting events. The tours have been regarded as part of the apartheid government's sporting propaganda.

Cycling

• There are numerous reports that 2020 Tour de France was used by problematic countries and companies to sportswash their tarnished reputation; the following teams have been accused of sportswashing during the event:
  • Ineos Grenadiers
  • UAE Team Emirates
  • Bahrain–McLaren

Motorsport

• Indian fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya's ownership of the Force India Formula One team. Mallya's Force India team were accused by the Indian Enforcement Directorate that it was created for money laundering purposes.
• Kingdom of Bahrain state-owned sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat Holding Company, partial stake at McLaren Group which includes its racing division, McLaren Racing, which competes in Formula One, Formula E, Extreme E and IndyCar Series.

Other

• The Al Maktoum family's ownership of Godolphin and Essential Quality.
• The takeover of esports organizations ESL and FACEIT by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

• Daniel Kinahan's involvement in boxing as a promoter.
• Brother of Venezuelan PSUV politician and Bolibourgeoisie Jesse Chacón, Arné Chacón ownership of stable in Florida called Gadu Racing Stable Corp and participation of horse racing in United States.
• Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov ownership of horse Mourilyan which competed in Melbourne Cup horse racing. The participation has gained controversy in Australia. Australian Senator Bob Brown called the Australian government to quarantine the prize money as concern of money laundering. and having runners in various meetings in the UK especially Royal Ascot
• International Cycling Union presenting a certificate of appreciation to Turkmen dictator Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow for "in development of sport and consolidation of universal peace and progress".

• Kazakhstan has joined UEFA since 2002 and has also sponsored numerous sporting events in recent years. Kazakhstan has been accused of being an authoritarian dictatorship due to its repression on dissidents and censorship of media, and that their UEFA membership association has also been under criticism as Kazakhstan has shared more commons with the authoritarian AFC than with more democratic UEFA due to the majority of Asian nations being authoritarian as contrast to European ones, which has gained headline after Kazakhstan become the first UEFA member after Belarus to send a national team (U-21) to play Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, FC Astana, a football project launched by the autocratic government of Nursultan Nazarbayev to gain foothold in Europe and justify its membership switch, was also seen as sportswashing.
• Myanmar has been recently allowed to host the 2022 AFF Championship and their clubs allowed to play home games in the 2023–24 AFC Cup despite grave human rights concerns in the aftermath of the Myanmar protests and massacres by the Tatmadaw on unarmed protesters. Additionally, the AFC is also accused of sportswashing in support for the Tatmadaw, by denying the request of the Australian club Macarthur FC to play their away match against Burmese opponent Shan United F.C. in a neutral ground.

• Greenwashing
• Pinkwashing (LGBT)
• Politics and sports
• Potemkin village
• Reputation laundering
• Soft power
• Spin (propaganda)
• Sport sanctions