We have seen the growth of the Saudi Pro League this summer — and now officials are lining up a Saudi Pro League of eSports.
Gaming is huge in the Middle East country thanks to its youthful population. Saudi is already a global capital for eSports events, with the recent Gamers8 series offering prize money of about £12million.
Agenda has learned that preliminary talks have taken place about each Pro League club being represented in a new competition. Gamers from each side could face each other in stadiums with their match shown on the big screen — before actual fixtures between the two clubs.
Audiences of up to two million would be expected on YouTube. In a recent World Cup tournament at Riyadh’s Boulevard City, one match had to be played behind closed doors after players complained that the excited crowd was putting them off.
Saudi’s Public Investment Fund, whose cash injection has seen four clubs raid Europe for big names, have a 8.26 per cent stake in Nintendo.
Saudi Arabian officials are working on a new Saudi Pro League for eSports following the rise in popularity of gaming in the Middle Eastern country
It comes after the recent Gamers8 eSports series offered prize money of about £12million
Agenda understands that preliminary talks have taken place with Saudi Pro League football clubs to see each side represented in the new competition
Airline backed by PIF becomes new Atletico shirt sponsor
Last week, new kid on the aviation block Riyadh Air announced a shirt sponsorship deal with Atletico Madrid. The airline, backed by PIF funding, are not set to fly for 18 months but plan to be the largest in the Middle East.
The Atletico sponsorship is their first, and it is understood more will follow. Officials are looking at various partnership options, including in the Premier League. Although PIF are the main owners of Newcastle United, there are no rules in place to prevent such deals.
Man City goalkeeper speaks on racism trauma
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Alex Williams has released a book which goes into harrowing detail about life as the top flight’s first black goalkeeper.
Williams, who made his City debut aged 19 in 1981, writes in You Saw Me Standing Alone that the club brought in comedian Bernard Manning once to launch a sponsorship deal with Saab.
Williams says Manning pointed at him and defender Clive Wilson and said: ‘If you win the league you’re all getting a Saab, but we might be a couple short so you n****** won’t be getting one,’ provoking laughter from the rest of the squad.
There is also a story of Everton fans setting fire to a newspaper, mimicking the Ku Klux Klan, as well as a nice tale of Williams playing at West Ham aged 20 and being applauded off by the home players and fans.
Gamers from each Pro League side could face each other before their clubs do battle on the pitch
Meanwhile, Al-Ahli’s new signing Edouard Mendy featured during his club’s 3-1 win against Al-Hazm
Edouard Mendy’s blunder in Pro League opener
Not the best of starts for former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who made a blunder in the Saudi Pro League’s opening match which saw his Al Ahli side overcome Al Hazm 3-1.
After the match in the players’ tunnel a plastic drink bottle containing a smoothie was dropped and splattered over the marble floor. Mendy was in the vicinity but witnesses insisted he was not the culprit.
This weekend saw the return of the Saudi Pro League, but Cristiano Ronaldo (middle) may not be present for Al-Nassr’s opening game against Al-Ettifaq on Monday evening
PSG accept Al-Hilal’s bid for Neymar
Neymar may become the latest big name to head from Europe to the Middle East after Al Hilal had a bid accepted by Paris Saint-Germain.
If the Brazilian decided to go it would be further evidence of the Qatar-owned club’s change in direction.
With Lionel Messi in Miami and Kylian Mbappe also set to depart, be it this summer or in 12 months, the shift in recruitment sees them now focused on young, mostly French players. Manchester United fans may be watching on with interest.
Paris Saint-Germain have accepted Al-Hilal’s offer for Brazilian forward Neymar (pictured)
Taylor Swift indirectly dragged into bid to host the World Cup final
Taylor Swift has been indirectly dragged into the battle to host the next World Cup final.
Bad blood exists between New York and Dallas, whose MetLife and AT&T stadiums are going head-to-head for the right to stage the 2026 showpiece.
Focus has turned to a study conducted on the increase in traffic delays around venues at which the US singer performed on her recent sell-out Eras Tour.
The report found AT&T to be the second-worst stadium on the circuit, with an increase of nearly 300 per cent in traffic delays due to congestion around the stadium — in contrast with MetLife, where investment in transit options saw traffic decrease compared to normal.
Taylor Swift (pictured left) has been inadvertently dragged into a battle to host the World Cup final in 2026
Pro League rules the roost in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi takeover of Newcastle grabbed headlines across the globe but the domestic game still rules the roost in the Kingdom.
On Saturday night, all eyes were on the Arab Club Champions Cup final between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, which took place while Newcastle were thrashing Aston Villa.
One Jeddah sports bar was showing the final on all of its dozens of screens, apart from one — which was airing reruns of US college football matches.
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