Just a thought, all these western footballers. Who will be the first to fall foul of their laws and face some kind of punishment that’s harsher than the west? We know what footballers are like, will they be able to restrain themselves whilst in SA?
Saudi League thread
- Thread starter shamans
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Think they'll all be in such a rich bubble they'll be able to do pretty much as they please, within reason to be honest.
Unless they have private parties, but for example some laws are:
a ban of alcohol
A ban of gambling
No public displays of affection
Just a disaster waiting to happen for some footballers. I wonder do they have some kind of waiver before agreeing their contracts
Initially they'll attract all those weirdos who follow players rather than a specific team which I'm looking forward to.
Saudi Arabia is not run as an islamic caliphate where every person is treated the same under the law, ie theres no benefit to rank or privilege. its an absolute monarchy, where rank and privelege / lineage determine everything. the footballers will be given far more leeway than the average subject.
Let’s say a footballer has an extra marital affair and is caught. Hypothetical I know.
Those rules are for the poor/common folk
I wonder how much these Football Manager idiots are going to end up spending, by the end of the transfer window.
4 or 5 teams seem to want to buy complete squads over the summer.
4 or 5 teams seem to want to buy complete squads over the summer.
Yes, very unlikely to happen.
There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's Mastercard.
This is actually the perfect slogan to sum up the SA League.
Saudi League can throw as much money they want, buy which ever player they want. But football is more than buying big player names. Football culture, stadium atmosphere, fans all these things that make the game enjoyable and interesting to follow are priceless.
This is actually the perfect slogan to sum up the SA League.
Saudi League can throw as much money they want, buy which ever player they want. But football is more than buying big player names. Football culture, stadium atmosphere, fans all these things that make the game enjoyable and interesting to follow are priceless.
Looks like Henderson could be the next one there. Reports coming out he’s seriously considering it and in advanced talks. Really surprised by this one considering his previous stances on certain issues.
Not even a little bit surprising to be honest, every one's a hypocrite (myself included). Haaland wore those shirts with Norway than signed for City.
Carragher on the wc but not on Stevie G etc...
It's very easy to preach, much tougher to practice.
Do they have a foreign player limit? That might hinder them
8 but I imagine they'd just up it or get rid of it
Does it really matter, they're just doing whatever they want.
Money talks and everyone listens
I mean, in all honesty, I'd rather they did instead of the odd player here or there.
If you're gonna splash the cash that we know they have, they might as well go all out and make some kind of superstar league.
Would any of you actually watch these games? Who is the audience? Just Saudis for the most part?
Plenty of Ronaldo fanboys will have watched every game to try and convince themselves it's a half decent thing. There are a lot of Ronaldo fanboys.
Assuming they’re targeting the people who watch European football after targeting European based players, which is basically anyone interested in football across the entire planet.
This league is more competition for players, which is going to push up prices and wages for us.
They are not just buying big names though are they, they are buying a mix of everything. Im also going to assume you have never watched any games in that league, judging by the rest of your post.
It's true, but it must be said that unlike when they go into other sports like golf where there is nobody at the course and nobody cares, soccer is by far the biggest sport there and the people actually care about it. They were among the biggest fans at the World Cup, to do with it being so close to them no doubt, and they made the last 16 of the World Cup almost 30 years ago. In fact I'm surprised they waited so long and bothered to buy Newcastle really when they had the money to bring so many players to their own league.
Correct. They'll be pretty much above the law.
I would say, for those wondering about the restrictive laws, that those won’t even be a consideration.
The lavish lifestyle, freedom and luxury that will be afforded to them will be a pull by itself. It will be a level above what even they are used to. Private jets to and from their own countries, a staff catering to families every whim.
I think that level of luxury would appeal to some who are tired of the grind and want an easier job with more perks.
The lavish lifestyle, freedom and luxury that will be afforded to them will be a pull by itself. It will be a level above what even they are used to. Private jets to and from their own countries, a staff catering to families every whim.
I think that level of luxury would appeal to some who are tired of the grind and want an easier job with more perks.
I agree, if anything the lifestyle will be even more lavish and even more questionable behaviour will be tolerated as compared to back in Europe.
I cannot see too many Europeans watching this league. We barely watch two full different leagues. Are we really going to be vested in teams we can barely pronounce...let alone know of..i cannot see it. Ronaldo was a good capture, Messi would have been even better. They need players with a lot of loyal following. I think it is more meant for the Middle East market. Anyway...I also hope this flops hard, so being right on it would be nice.
Money talks and he knows he’s declining rapidly as he gets older. Gets a pay rise in a comfortable league if he goes and would be a regular starter.
The fees they have been paying so far are not really exorbitant. €40m for Milinkovic Savin when we had been linked with him at £60m or even £80m previously.
Henderson offered £700k a week wages according to very reliable journos. Has there ever been a better time to be an average professional footballer? That’s insane money, even for the Saudis.
All the money is going in wages, which are far and beyond anything European teams can offer. Even Man City and PSG can't offer those wages, on the books at least.
Ornstein: Henderson leaning towards accepting life-changing offer
What the feck, journalism reaching new lows, beggers belief how out of touch some journalists are with reality.
What the feck, journalism reaching new lows, beggers belief how out of touch some journalists are with reality.
£40 million bid from Saudi for Fabinho now too!
Why can't they take the likes of Martial, Fred and Maguire!
Why can't they take the likes of Martial, Fred and Maguire!
Is anyone going to watch this league? I dont think I have any interest.. There are several leagues that are better. it'll take these kind of transfers for a few years to raise the level of the league to a point where I would watch it...
Hilarious that the Saudi League, of all people, seem to be tougher on FFP than the Premier League has been with City
Ronaldo calling the owners as we speak.
Mean he's calling Piers Morgan as we speak
Isn't the ban coming from FIFA rather than Saudi?Hilarious that the Saudi League, of all people, seem to be tougher on FFP than the Premier League has been with City
Seems like it's an easy fix for Saudi PIF to sort, but quite funny to see the money is drying up already.