Translation:
"Saudi Arabia's multi-billion investment in football has been criticized for sportswashing. When SVT asks the Saudi league's sports director for a diplomatic response, it sounds different after he leaves the interview, forgetting that the microphone is still on.
– "Sports f*cking washing," he says to a colleague.
Watch Emelano speak after the interview in the player above.
In SVT's documentary "Saudi Arabia - Football's New Mecca," Saudi football league's sports director, Michael Emelano, is interviewed.
Emelano, a former Nigerian national team player and technical director at English club Chelsea, was asked about the criticism directed at the players and the league. They are accused of being part of Saudi Arabia's sportswashing efforts, attempting to improve the country's reputation through sports.
– We live in a world where people have the right to express their opinions. I am not a politician, and I am not a moral police. My job is to come here and help with a wonderful and ambitious project, creating a competitive and entertaining league that the people in the Kingdom are proud of, he says.
Forgetting the microphone is on Then a question is raised about whether he has seen any tendencies as reported by the British newspaper The Sun last fall – that many foreign players regret their decision to move to Saudi Arabia. Emelano argues that it is "easy to spread unnecessary rumors."
The interview is then stopped, and Emelano quickly leaves the room. However, he forgets to turn off the microphone – and the sound leaks out.
– That it always has to be about sportswashing. "Sport f*cking washing," he says to a colleague."
Sounds ugly... but at least it's hopefully getting better now. Always a bit positive when you feel it's going up again and the body is recovering.
