Sir, – Reliance on oil as a sole revenue source is at or near its endgame. Small wonder the Saudis are now heavily investing in two blue-chip cash-flow sources. What has so many upset is those sources are top-flight golf and football.
Economically, it’s a no-brainer given these sports generate obscene amounts of cash which seems in itself of little concern to us. Our concern stems from the human rights abuses of the Saudi government and the fear its money will soften perception of those abuses. It may very well do just that, just as governments can pay money to avoid taking in refugees or, until recently, could pay to use other nations’ green credits to avoid meeting climate change targets. After all, it does seem to be about money more than anything.
Filthy lucre, no wonder it needs a washing. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN FALTER,
Ballyshannon,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – To date all the discussion on the merger of the PGA Tour, DP Tour and the commercial interests of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has focused on sports washing and the potential division of the vast largess among all the very rich and successful male golfers.
Spare a thought for the female golfers on the LPGA and the European LET Tour who have been ignored in this great “initiative for the future of golf” – men’s golf!
If women are to be treated as equals, wouldn’t it be great if all the merging parties were to share some of their wealth to develop women’s tours so that the future of golf is not solely focused on the men’s tours. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL CULLEN,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.