Women’s World Cup hosts urge FIFA not to sign Saudi sponsor

By GRAHAM DUNBAR
AP Sports Writer

GENEVA (AP) — Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have urged FIFA not to sign a sponsor deal with the tourism authority of Saudi Arabia. They say “rights of women remain severely restricted” in Saudi Arabia. Leaders of the two national soccer federations warned in a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino the “Visit Saudi” sponsorship could “severely tarnish the reputation” of the tournament that starts in July. They say Australia and New Zealand have long “placed the utmost importance on gender equality,” In Saudi society women’s freedoms are limited by strict male guardianship laws.