No point on debating who are the baddest out of China or the Saudis. The fact is are people concerned that FIFA is blatently getting the Saudis to fully fund a FIFA program? We all know FIFA is corrupt. This is just part of the deal that got FIFA to corrupt the playoffs of the Asia conf WC qualification to ensure that the Saudis qualify. This is obviously the pay back. The Saudis have to pay for the Oceania pro league
Honestly, who gives a shark? Without this there is no pro football in Oceania.
I mean, basically. We can’t scratch professional sport at the top levels without finding questionable practices and the more money involved, the worse it gets.
While one version of the old tale is the factory owner funded the local team to give workers something to do on their half day Sunday, there’s another version.
That’s here it isn’t a local factory owner, but an international conglomerate arrived to do business and it funds the local sports club to get folk who’ll overlook them poisoning the river that flows through town or dumping rubbish in pristine countryside. Don’t ask about mines and smelters etc.
Hopefully once this ball gets rolling there’s a way to keep it going that retains a bit of island control and a few long sighted locals work out how to get money out by getting more people interested, traveling to their island for a luxury beach cabin and soccer festival or however…something that can be sustained! Not that New Zealand has a model for that…