Saudi Arabia’s Football Power Play

Thank you for tuning in for our 14th episode of The Artful Nutmeg. This week we are talking about Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a powerful force in the world of football. The country is using a near limitless well of money to draw the biggest names to their domestic league, we are looking at just a few of the steps the country has taken to assert dominance in the sporting world.

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SHOW NOTES

• How Saudi Arabia under MBS is disrupting the football landscape (Indian Express)
• Inside the Saudi Gold Rush (NY Times)
• Saudi Pro League ‘handed £17BILLION budgetin seven-year transfer spree’ (The Sun)
• Saudi Arabia: What is the nation hoping to achieve amid transfer takeover and what happens next? (Sky Sports)
• Saudi Arabia, football’s big disruptors. The story of the money, the motive and the hidden disputes (The Athletic)
• Why the Saudi Pro League Is the Future of Elite Football (The Ringer)
• PIF acquires Saudi Pro League four largest clubs (SB Nation)
• European clubs urge inquiry into Chelsea and Wolves’ Saudi Arabia transfer deals (Sports Pro Media)
• UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations (Wikipedia)
• How China wants to become a football heavyweight (Deutsche Welle)
• Scandal-plagued China soccer hit by new corruption probes (Associated Press)
• Xi Jinping wanted China to be a global soccer power. What went wrong? (CNN)
• Lionel Messi to Inter Miami negotiations took three years (ESPN)
• Cristiano Ronaldo says Saudi Pro League 'better' than MLS (ESPN)
• MLS Season Pass nearing 1M subs prior to Messi bump, team execs frustrated with Apple’s lack of transparency (9to5 Mac)
• Fans can watch Saudi Pro League games for £8.99 a month (Sport Bible)

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WOMEN'S WORLD CUP UPDATE

• 6 Takeaways From USWNT's Win vs. Vietnam (Bleacher Report)
• USWNT vs. Netherlands: Three keys for USA (CBS)
• Lionesses rusty and predictable but get job done (BBC)
• Lauren Hemp confident Lionesses ‘will be raring’ for goals against Denmark (The Guardian)
• Philippines stun hosts New Zealand (ESPN)

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NEWS & ANALYSIS

• Lionel Messi lights up Atlanta United in first start for Inter Miami (Goal)
• UK billionaire Joe Lewis, owner of Tottenham soccer team, charged with insider trading in US (Associated Press)
• Saudi Arabian football club Al-Hilal makes record €330 million bid for France striker Kylian Mbappe (Euro News)
• World Cup Exec says Premier League games shoud go to USA (Goal)

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The Artful Nutmeg is the newest project by a couple of friends who share a deep love for soccer. This show explores the deeper world of soccer by examining some of the greatest stories and the lesser-known moments that have shaped the game. This podcast requires no prior knowledge of the game. Instead, this is a chance to build up appreciation for the game, its history, and the people who play for the love of it.

 

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