At London’s iconic Wembley Stadium, the Saudi Arabian national anthem echoed through the arena before a highly anticipated sporting event featuring British athletes Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. The decision to play the anthem of the Middle Eastern kingdom has sparked controversy and criticism among the 96,000 spectators and fans watching at home.
The match, which saw Dubois emerge victorious against Joshua, was part of the Riyadh Season, a series of cultural and sporting events promoted by Saudi Arabia. Turki Alalshikh, a prominent member of the Saudi royal court, played a key role in organizing the event.
Social media platforms were quickly flooded with comments expressing bewilderment and disappointment. One fan described the situation as “embarrassing,” questioning the appropriateness of playing a foreign anthem for a contest between two English athletes on British soil. Another spectator sarcastically remarked on the peculiarity of hearing the Saudi anthem at Wembley, accompanied by a laughing emoji.
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that the Saudi anthem was played before the British national anthem, a decision that left many attendees baffled. “How do you sing the Saudi Arabia national anthem BEFORE the host nation’s — and both athlete’s anthems,” one perplexed fan wrote.
no dissrespect meant, but I can’t be the only one a little weirded out from the infuence these oil guys have
Infont of 100k drunk english fans to sing the Saudi anthem before the english one with the main event 2 englishmen, Its just wrong, call me whatever u like, i dont… pic.twitter.com/hwOx96NIGh— Ash Ashik (@AshAshik197) September 21, 2024
Some critics went as far as to suggest that this move symbolized a broader trend of prioritizing financial interests over national pride. “Truly sold our souls for the money,” lamented one disgruntled supporter.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has been aggressively pursuing influence in the boxing world, with one of his latest moves being an attempt to purchase BoxRec, a widely respected boxing records database. This action is part of a broader strategy to control key assets in the sport, as Saudi Arabia continues to pour unprecedented financial resources into boxing. When BoxRec’s owner, John Sheppard, declined to sell, he faced significant repercussions, illustrating Alalshikh’s growing dominance and his intolerance for opposition. Turki Alalshikh is also said to be on the verge of acquiring The Ring, which would give him control over the magazine’s championship belts and rankings. Thomas Houser of boxingscene was the first to report on these efforts.
While the anthem controversy overshadowed the pre-match proceedings, the sporting event itself was a display of skill and determination, with Dubois ultimately securing a victory in the fifth round.
