Chinese Super League and Saudi’s attempt

Why are Saudi Arabia so invested in sport?

Should fans be concerned?

Why influx of money into EPL was more accepted

The future of Saudi Arabia’s plans in sports

Should fans welcome it or be concerned? And why?

Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle.

A new dawn for football in the Gulf kingdom kicked off in August 2023, as the league took its first bold steps towards becoming a force to be reckoned with in world football.

Football is currently in the limelight with the Saudi Pro League having invested over €600 million (S$886.7 million) to lure a host of top players and coaches from European clubs. 

What is the end goal?

Sport business group leader for Deloitte Asia-Pacific - James Walton - and ST Sports columnist John Brewin, join ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to discuss the pursuit of sports dominance by Saudi Arabia and if the rest of the sporting world should be concerned.

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:20 The differences between what China did with its Chinese Super League and the Saudi attempt

9:00 Why are Saudi Arabia so invested in sport? What is their goal?

15:10 Should fans be concerned by Saudi Arabia’s investment in football and sport?

22:20 John Brewin on why the influx of money into the English Premier League was more accepted compared to the latest trend in the Middle East

28:40 The future of Saudi Arabia’s plans in sports

Read more: https://str.sg/iSkj

Produced by: Deepanraj Ganesan (gdeepan@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Paxton Pang & Eden Soh

Edited by: Eden Soh

Follow ST Sports Talk & Hard Tackle Podcasts every second and fourth Wednesdays of the month:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Follow Deepanraj Ganesan on X: https://str.sg/wtra

Read his articles: https://str.sg/ip4G

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Discover more ST podcast channels:

COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#sportstalk #asianinsider

Should fans welcome it or be concerned? And why?
Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle.
A new dawn for football in the Gulf kingdom kicked off in August 2023, as the league took its first bold steps towards becoming a force to be reckoned with in world football.
Football is currently in the limelight with the Saudi Pro League having invested over €600 million (S$886.7 million) to lure a host of top players and coaches from European clubs. 
What is the end goal?
Sport business group leader for Deloitte Asia-Pacific - James Walton - and ST Sports columnist John Brewin, join ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to discuss the pursuit of sports dominance by Saudi Arabia and if the rest of the sporting world should be concerned.
Highlights (click/tap above):
3:20 The differences between what China did with its Chinese Super League and the Saudi attempt
9:00 Why are Saudi Arabia so invested in sport? What is their goal?
15:10 Should fans be concerned by Saudi Arabia’s investment in football and sport?
22:20 John Brewin on why the influx of money into the English Premier League was more accepted compared to the latest trend in the Middle East
28:40 The future of Saudi Arabia’s plans in sports
Read more: <a href="https://str.sg/iSkj">https://str.sg/iSkj</a>
Produced by: Deepanraj Ganesan (<a href="mailto:gdeepan@sph.com.sg">gdeepan@sph.com.sg</a>), Ernest Luis, Paxton Pang &amp; Eden Soh
Edited by: Eden Soh
Follow ST Sports Talk &amp; Hard Tackle Podcasts every second and fourth Wednesdays of the month:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRE">https://str.sg/JWRE</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRa">https://str.sg/JWRa</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/JW6N">https://str.sg/JW6N</a>
Google Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/JX88">https://str.sg/JX88</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg/">https://www.awedio.sg/</a>
Website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
Follow Deepanraj Ganesan on X: <a href="https://str.sg/wtra">https://str.sg/wtra</a>
Read his articles: <a href="https://str.sg/ip4G">https://str.sg/ip4G</a>
---
Discover more ST podcast channels:
COE Watch: <a href="https://str.sg/iTtE">https://str.sg/iTtE</a>
In Your Opinion: <a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt">https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Asian Insider: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>
Health Check: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaN">https://str.sg/JWaN</a>
Green Pulse: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaf">https://str.sg/JWaf</a>
Your Money &amp; Career: <a href="https://str.sg/wB2m">https://str.sg/wB2m</a>
ST Sports Talk: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRE">https://str.sg/JWRE</a>
#PopVultures: <a href="https://str.sg/JWad">https://str.sg/JWad</a>
Music Lab: <a href="https://str.sg/w9TX">https://str.sg/w9TX</a>
Discover ST Podcasts: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
---
Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (new): <a href="https://str.sg/i44T">https://str.sg/i44T</a>
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZ2">https://str.sg/wuZ2</a>
Invisible Asia (9 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZn">https://str.sg/wuZn</a>
Stop Scams (10 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZB">https://str.sg/wuZB</a>
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuJa">https://str.sg/wuJa</a>
---
Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
#sportstalk #asianinsider

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. 

Podcaster: Deepanraj Ganesan

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month. 
Podcaster: Deepanraj Ganesan
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis &amp; The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

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