‘You always have a choice’: Tessel Middag speaks out against Saudi Arabia’s influence on football

‘You always have a choice’: Tessel Middag speaks out against Saudi Arabia’s influence on football Former Netherlands international Tessel Middag spoke to De Volkskrant journalist Dirk Jacob Nieuwboer about the growing influence of Saudi Arabian oil money on football, the human rights concerns surrounding the country and the difficult choices facing players offered lucrative contracts. The 33-year-old midfielder, who has played for Ajax, Manchester City, West Ham United and Fiorentina, has been a vocal critic of the relationship between football and Saudi Arabia in the past. In the interview, she also reflected on turning down a Saudi offer herself, her campaign against Aramco’s FIFA sponsorship and the growing presence of Saudi investment in both the men’s and women’s game. Middag revealed she received an offer to play in Saudi Arabia several years ago, which would have seen her earn around €20,000 a month — a figure she described as ‘truly life-changing money’. But one she ultimately decided to turn down. “I could have easily earned 20,000 euros a month,” Middag told De Volkskrant. “I have never earned anywhere near that in my career. If I had played in Saudi Arabia for a few years, I might have been able to buy a house in Amsterdam. “That would have been truly life-changing money, but I have absolutely no regrets that I didn’t do it. Of course, you can refuse — you always have a choice.” Embed from Getty Images Where did Tessel Middag play? The 33-year-old has spent her career playing across several countries and some of European football’s biggest leagues. She has represented ADO Den Haag, Ajax, West Ham United, Fiorentina, Rangers and Wellington Phoenix, experiencing first-hand the development and increasing commercialisation of the women’s game. The midfielder also spent two seasons at Manchester City after moving from her native Netherlands. She played for the Cityzens between 2016 and 2018, when the club was already under Abu Dhabi ownership, but she now views that period differently. Embed from Getty Images “I am more aware of the influence of oil money now,” she said. “Back then, I didn’t consider not doing it, and I still understand that. For the first time, I could earn enough from football to live off it and play at a higher level.” Middag’s own experience is important to her argument. She doesn’t suggest that every player who accepts Saudi money is acting irresponsibly. Instead, she recognises the difficult choices footballers face and the enormous financial incentives on offer. But she believes players should still question those choices. Saudi Arabia’s connection to women’s football Saudi Arabia is increasingly influencing both the men’s and women’s game, with more stars choosing to move there. One of the most prominent examples in the women’s game is Spain international Esther González, who joined Al-Qadsiah after terminating her contract with NWSL side Gotham FC. González is a World Cup winner and had established herself at one of the leading clubs in the United States, making her move another indication of the financial pull Saudi Arabia has within women’s football. Embed from Getty Images However, her transfer raised questions around the personal implications of playing in the country. The 33-year-old is in a same-sex relationship and has a child with her partner, while same-sex relationships remain illegal in Saudi Arabia. “What I have more trouble with is that González is taking this step while she still had a contract with Gotham FC, a top club in the US,” Middag said. “She was already doing well. And then she chooses to go to a country where gays can be arrested because they are gay. And all just for more money.” Gonzálezs’ profile as a World Cup winner gives further global visibility to the Saudi Women’s Premier League as it attempts to attract established players from around the world. Just as we’ve seen happen in the men’s game. Middag said: “It is good that women have gained more freedom there in recent years, but they still do not have the same rights as men, and homosexual relationships are punishable by prison sentences. If people advocate for change, they can end up in prison for years.” The former Dutch international therefore believes football should focus on understanding how money has gained such a powerful influence over the direction of the sport, while human rights appears to have been benched. Which male players moved to Saudi Arabia this summer? Embed from Getty Images In recent years, we’ve seen a huge influx of male stars transferring to Saudi Arabia and this summer was no different, with two high profile Dutch internationals making the move. Tijani Reijnders and Crysencio Summerville both decided to say goodbye to the Premier League. In Reijnders’ case, his father explained that the midfielder wanted to leave Manchester City because he expected his playing time to decrease, while European clubs were unwilling to meet City’s asking price. The financial capabilities of Saudi were therefore significant. “Surely you also ask yourself where you want to earn your money?” said Middag. “These men already have millions and can earn a lot elsewhere too. They really do have a choice, of course they can refuse. “I just don’t understand why people always want more and more. Is it so bad to earn a little less?” This argument is at the heart of Middag’s criticism. She disputes the claims that footballers have no choice when presented with enormous Saudi offers. However, she does recognise that the sums can be transformative, particularly in women’s football, where salaries remain considerably lower than in the men’s game. However, she believes players should still consider the wider implications of where they choose to earn their money. Targeting FIFA and Aramco Middag’s criticism extends beyond individual players’ choice to move to Saudi Arabia. In 2024, she joined forces with two other footballers to write an open letter to FIFA, calling for the governing body to end its sponsorship agreement with Aramco — the national petroleum and natural gas company of Saudi Arabia. The letter attracted signatures from 135 women, including Netherlands international Vivianne Miedema, before a further 35 men joined the call. Embed from Getty Images Aramco is allowed to call itself a FIFA ‘Major Worldwide Partner’ through a sponsorship agreement reportedly worth around €85 million a year. However, for Middag, the partnership represents a contradiction. She believes football should stand for inclusion and provide an environment where people can be themselves, while Saudi Arabia’s laws and human rights record conflict with those principles. The campaign did attract attention, but Middag admits it has not achieved its ultimate objective. “Aramco is, of course, still a sponsor,” she said. “FIFA didn’t even respond to us. So in that sense, it hasn’t been successful. Still, I am glad that we spoke out, because it is important that we continue this discussion.” The climate crisis Middag’s concerns extend beyond human rights and towards the worsening climate crisis. As part of this, she believes football should be more conscious of the climate impact of its commercial relationships, particularly given Aramco’s position as one of the world’s largest oil companies. For her, the climate crisis is already affecting the sport, from amateur pitches becoming unplayable to professional players competing in extreme heat. “Football, in particular, should not allow itself to be used by the fossil fuel lobby,” she said. Middag also argues that Saudi Arabia’s investment in sport is part of a wider attempt to reshape how the country is perceived internationally. “Sport is used to improve the country’s image. So when you think of Saudi Arabia, you don’t think of human rights, but of football. And when you think of Aramco, of the World Cup final and not of climate disasters.” It’s why she believes football’s governing bodies have a responsibility that goes beyond simply maximising commercial revenue. ‘Choices are rarely entirely black and white’ Embed from Getty Images Despite her strong criticism, the midfielder is reluctant to place the blame entirely on players. For instance, she understands why footballers are attracted by the financial opportunities and accepts that it can be increasingly difficult to find major clubs untouched by oil money. Instead, she believes greater responsibility lies with clubs and football associations. Footballers, she argues, are not anonymous businessmen. They instead carry large profiles which in turn means they can influence public opinion, which is part of the reason Saudi Arabia is willing to invest heavily in them. Looking ahead, the 33-year-old hopes that rather than simply accepting the high-value offers, players can use their platform to challenge the systems behind them. At the same time, she doesn’t pretend that making entirely responsible choices is always possible. “I’m a hypocrite too. I would really like not to fly, but my girlfriend lives in New Zealand, and then I get on the plane anyway.” This admission is central to Middag’s wider argument. She doesn’t believe that the issue is entirely black and white, nor does she claim to have made the perfect decision at every stage of her career. Instead, she wants football to have more honest conversations about the choices being made. And for players to remember that emotional connection is something to truly value in football. “It is a privilege to play for a great club and make people happy; that is what you dream of as a child,” she said. “I don’t think you get that same satisfaction in Saudi Arabia. That bothers me so much, that the beauty of football is simply cast aside. Just to earn even more money.” Related articles from Her Football Hub: Tereza Romanovskaja: From a Turmantas schoolyard, to UWCL nights and the Lithuania national team How Football Manager 26 is helping change perceptions of the women’s game WAFCON: Banyana Banyana turn goals into sanitary pads for girls in South Africa