Ronaldo's league exposed in an embarrassing scandal

The football league in Saudi Arabia, where Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays, has just faced a major shock as a newly emerged club was found paying fans to fill the stands.

According to an investigation by L’Équipe, Neom SC - a newcomer Saudi Pro League secretly paid around $11 (equivalent to about 270,000 VND) to each spectator attending their home matches. These individuals were added to a private social media chat group, receiving instructions on how to cheer loudly, wave flags, and celebrate goals like loyal supporters. The entire effort aimed to create an artificial lively atmosphere, masking the reality of usually sparse attendance in the stands.

This situation highlights the significant challenge faced by the Saudi Pro League. Despite investing billions of dollars to recruit stars, the league still struggles to attract genuine interest from local fans. This issue is especially evident with Neom SC. Even with a star-studded lineup including Alexandre Lacazette, Said Benrahma, Luciano Rodriguez, and Cheick Doucoure under coach Christophe Galtier, the club had to resort to “hiring fans.”

The Times added that this is not an isolated case. Due to geographic, climatic conditions and a still shallow connection to football, many other Saudi clubs use similar tactics. The NEOM project - backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) - is part of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan to elevate the nation through sports. However, paying fans contradicts that ambition, causing significant negative perception internationally.

Currently, Neom SC still rents the King Khalid Sport City stadium in Tabuk, located 90 miles from the future city “The Line.” Although there are plans to build a grand stadium with a capacity of tens of thousands, the present reality exposes a paradox: abundant financial resources but audience engagement far below expectations.

After three rounds, Neom SC has won 2 matches and lost 1, ranking 5th in the Saudi Pro League standings. This is a relatively impressive record for a newcomer, but the story of “hiring fans” has overshadowed everything. It serves as proof that Saudi football’s appeal remains superficial, relying too much on stars and money rather than real passion from the audience.

The Neom SC case exposes a humiliating truth: Saudi Arabian football still has a long way to go to build a sustainable football culture. Big stars, including Ronaldo, have boosted media exposure for the league, but if the stands still have to “buy” enthusiasm, the dream of becoming a global force will remain only on the surface.

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