Several years ago, football in Arab countries was not of global interest compared to their counterparts in Europe and Latin America. However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia brought the brightest football stars in the world, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar da Silva, Sadio Mané, Riyad Mahrez, and others. Despite the exorbitant cost of employing these players, and the unparalleled extravagance, the motives and goals behind their recruitment are even more catastrophic.

The central motive for bringing them is the project to transform Saudi into a liberal and modern state, erasing religious aspects from the regime. The main goal is to divert the interests and priorities of Muslim youth in Saudi and the Gulf, steering their attention away from politics and the significant betrayal by the Saudi rulers concerning “normalisation” with the Zionist entity. This comes amidst discussions of a deal that the Biden administration is pushing to make public concerning the secret relations between Saudi Arabia and “Israel” ahead of the upcoming US elections.

Hence, the Saudi league has been revitalised, and the spotlight has been excessively focused on these stars. Since the international players set foot in Saudi Arabia, no voice rises above the noise of the game. Ronaldo, Mané, and Neymar’s football skills have become part of daily discussions. Additionally, the clamour for extravagant parties featuring dance and music stars reached a point where disrespect for religion and values became apparent, as exemplified by the Australian rapper Iggy Azalea who insulted the Divine Entity during a concert in Riyadh a week ago. Using a “feminist” language, she incited Muslim women to rebel by singing, “Lord, let me know if you got this. Preaching about prophets. It ain’t no one man can stop us. Bow down to a Goddess, bow down to a Goddess…”

The Ummah is suffering from the oppressive ruling regime and the “scholars” who collude in subduing people to the rulers and their betrayal. The emboldening of Muslim youth to break religious taboos has become alarming. Every opinion holder and influencer must bear responsibility in fortifying the Ummah and strengthening her immunity against the virus of liberalism and modernism before it takes its toll and renders her a mere shadow of herself.

This article was written by Abu Usaid on 2nd September 2023