Swedish Saudi player Jacob Rinne on the criticism of sportswashing: "Why should I take responsibility?"

2024-01-24T06:07:01.833Z

Highlights: Footballers in Saudi Arabia face criticism for moving to the country. The move is seen as a way to boost the country's economy. But critics say the move is a violation of freedom of speech. The players say they are just doing their job, not trying to change the world. They say they don't want to change anything about the way the country is run, just the way it is. The player says: "I'm just doing my job, just like everyone else. It's not about changing the world"

Soccer players who chose to move to the Saudi league have been accused of becoming part of the country's sportswashing. But Swedish Jacob Rinne, pro in Saudi Arabia, doesn't buy that criticism. - Why should I on an individual level say no to something that can change my and my family's financial future, he says.

In the past year, many big stars, such as the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, the French Karim Benzema and the Brazilian Neymar, have moved to Saudi Arabia to play in the Saudi Pro League.

Some of that news reporting has been about sportswashing, meaning that it helps Saudi Arabia wash its reputation with the help of sports.

Saudi Arabia is also a country with a lack of human rights, and has been heavily criticized by organizations such as Amnesty.

For example, homosexuality is a crime against the country's laws, there is no freedom of religion and freedom of speech is severely restricted.

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Swedish Jacob Rinne, who turned professional at the Saudi club Al Fateh last season, defends his choice to move to the kingdom.

- I am here doing a job, just like everyone else is here doing a job, he says.

Watch more of the interview with Jacob Rinne in the player above.

The coach: "Didn't notice anything"

Rinne's coach in Al Fateh, Slaven Bilic, former national team captain in Croatia, is on the same track.

- I heard about that when I was in Europe, of course, but I didn't notice anything when I was a coach here in 2018. If I had, I would have thought twice before going back, he says.

Watch the documentary "Saudi Arabia - the new Mecca of football" on SVT Play.

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Swedish Saudi player Jacob Rinne on the criticism of sportswashing: "Why should I take responsibility?"

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The coach: "Didn't notice anything"

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