Why the LIV golf series is so controversial - BBC News

The PGA Tour has suspended all of its members who are playing in this week's Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which helped bankroll the recent takeover of Newcastle United, is the majority shareholder in LIV Golf Investments.

The Gulf kingdom is accused of investing in sport and using high-profile events to 'sports wash' its reputation in other parts of the world.

The BBC’s Ros Atkins explains why the tournament is so controversial.

#Golf #BBCNews

[terryrowe]

Will the BBC boycott showing matches from the World Cup in Qatar because of their awful human rights?

[richwilliams]

What's the obsession with grilling sports people about shady politics, when politicians have dealings with these people all the time and are in a position to do something about it?

[santiagoego]

Its so controversial coz its going against the PGA monopoly and they are using every inch of their power to discredit the LIV Tour

[johndoe]

That illegal war in Iraq was a mistake? A million dead from that mistake... Sorry, what were you saying?

[avebave]

God I love how sassy British News is 😂 I'd actually watch the news if I lived there

[christopherhall]

British hands are completely clean when it comes to human rights....right!

[justinjackson]

Every western nation does business and arms dealing with Saudis, but yeah the moral dilemma lay at the feet of golfers. Gtfo with this nonsense

[NOTA-noneoftheabove]

So let me get this straight... the US has no problem with human rights abuses when they buy Aramco Saudi oil, but golf is a big No No? Is this not a bit of a "double standard"? Seems hypocritical!

[andrepairwindowservice]

Tell all of these countries to stop trading with Saudi before they expect sportsman and women to not participate. What a joke

[huglo]

Because the good old boys have some competition with far more money than they will ever have.

[andrewlm]

The suggestion that golfers participating in LIV Tour are somehow complicit in the repugnant behavior of the Saudi Government are pretty silly

[BlueBaron]

Wow, that was journalism with an EDGE!

[lawrenceanthony]

Why don't the bbc ever talk about the rising cost of living and stagnant wages?

[danmiller]

I like how all these people act like if they were offered 100 plus millions they would not take it.

[thebourg]

They act like no one has ever done business with the Saudi government ever. Why asking golfers about Saudi human rights has anything to do with anytyhing.

[philn]

so is nobody bothered about newcastle in this country lol

[SCARPENTER]

Liv golf is challenging the Americans and that is all this is about.

[smartwater]

Blatant Propaganda likes this is actually scary shame on you BBC

[Liam.Bellamy]

Litterally didn’t have any of this controversy around F1 etc and other events hosted in this country. The World Cup has actual human rights directly associated with the build up to event and has hardly been spoken about. Yet golfers are under great scrutiny because it’s funded by Saudi and nothing controversial has actually come from the event? I’m sorry but there is controversy and human rights issues in every country let’s not forget about it. Think this is just all a ploy by the pga because they don’t want competition like there is in boxing etc where there is free lance professionals that compete for a living.

[SoldierPrince]

In October 2022 the top imports of United Kingdom from Saudi Arabia were Refined Petroleum (£215M), Gas Turbines (£80.9M), Ethylene Polymers (£7.56M), Aluminium Plating (£5.47M), and Compasses (£3.98M).

If your country won't make a stand, why would your golfers.