We’ve seen the growth of the Saudi Pro League this summer – and now officials are lining up a Saudi Pro League of eSports.
Gambling is huge in the Middle Eastern country thanks to its young population. Saudi Arabia is already a global capital for eSports events, with the recent Gamers8 series offering prize money of around £12m.
Agenda has learned that preliminary talks have taken place for each Pro League club to be represented in a new competition. Players from either side could face off in stadiums with their game shown on the big screen – ahead of the actual meetings between the two clubs.
Audiences of up to two million are expected on YouTube. At a recent World Cup tournament at Boulevard City in Riyadh, a match had to be played behind closed doors after players complained that the excited crowd was putting them off.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund, whose cash injection saw four clubs attack Europe for big names, has an 8.26% stake in Nintendo.
Saudi officials are working on a new Saudi Pro League for eSports following the rise in popularity of games in the Middle Eastern country
It comes after the recent Gamers8 eSports series offered a prize money of around £12m
Agenda understands preliminary talks have taken place with Saudi Arabian Pro League football clubs to see every team represented in the new competition.
PIF-backed airline becomes new Atletico shirt sponsor
Last week, aviation bloc newbie Riyadh Air announced a shirt sponsorship deal with Atletico Madrid.
The airline, backed by PIF funding, is not expected to fly for 18 months but plans to be the largest in the Middle East.
The Atletico sponsorship is their first, and it’s understood more will follow. Officials are looking at various partnership options, including in the Premier League.
Although PIF is the main owner of Newcastle United, there are no rules in place to prevent such dealings.
Man City goalkeeper speaks out on the trauma of racism
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Alex Williams has published a book which gives harrowing details of life as the elite’s first black goalkeeper.
Williams, who made his City debut aged 19 in 1981, writes in You Saw Me Standing Alone that the club once brought in comedian Bernard Manning to start a sponsorship deal with Saab.
Williams says Manning pointed the finger at him and defender Clive Wilson and said: “If you win the league you all get a Saab but we might be short on a few so you n****** won’t get one,’ prompting laughter from the rest of the team.
There is also a story of Everton fans setting fire to a newspaper, impersonating the Ku Klux Klan, as well as a great story of Williams playing for West Ham aged 20 and cheered on by local players and the fans.
Players from each Pro League team could face off before their clubs battle it out on the pitch
Meanwhile, Al-Ahli’s new signing Edouard Mendy featured in his club’s 3-1 win over Al-Hazm.
Edouard Mendy’s blunder at the opening of the Pro League
Not the best of starts for former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who slipped up in the Saudi Pro League opener which saw his side Al-Ahli defeat Al-Hazm 3-1.
After the game, in the players’ tunnel, a plastic drink bottle containing a smoothie was thrown and splashed on the marble floor.
Mendy was nearby but witnesses insisted he was not the culprit.
PSG accept Al-Hilal’s offer for Neymar
Neymar could become the latest big name to head from Europe to the Middle East after Al-Hilal won an offer from Paris Saint-Germain.
Should the Brazilian decide to leave, it would be further proof of the Qatari club’s change of management.
With Lionel Messi at Miami and Kylian Mbappe also set to leave, either this summer or 12 months from now, the recruitment shift now sees them focus on young, mainly French players. Manchester United fans can watch with interest.
Paris Saint-Germain have accepted Al-Hilal’s offer for Brazilian striker Neymar (pictured)
Taylor Swift (pictured left) was inadvertently drawn into a battle to host the 2026 World Cup final
This weekend sees the return of the Saudi Pro League, but Cristiano Ronaldo (midfielder) may not feature for Al-Nassr’s opener against Al-Ettifaq after picking up an injury in his side’s win. team in the Arab Club Champions Cup on Saturday.
Taylor Swift indirectly dragged into bid to host World Cup final
Taylor Swift has been indirectly drawn into the battle to host the upcoming World Cup final.
Bad blood exists between New York and Dallas, whose MetLife and AT&T stadiums are battling it out for the right to stage 2026’s showpiece.
Focus turned to a study conducted on increased traffic delays around venues where the American singer performed during her recent sold-out Eras tour.
The report found that AT&T was the second-worst stadium on the circuit, with an almost 300% increase in traffic delays due to congestion around the stadium – unlike MetLife, where investment in public transport options saw traffic decrease from normal.
The Pro League rules the roost in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi takeover of Newcastle has grabbed headlines around the world, but the domestic game still dominates the kingdom.
On Saturday night, all eyes were on the Arab Club Champions Cup final between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, which took place as Newcastle beat Aston Villa.
A sports bar in Jeddah was showing the final on all of its dozens of screens except for one – which showed replays of US college football games.
