The Qatari Investment Authority is making a bid to purchase a stake in the parent company that owns the Washington Capitals, Mystics, and Wizards. This move not only aims to improve Qatar’s country image but also sets a new standard in American team sports. However, this relationship between Qatar and Monumental Sports & Entertainment is not unique. It follows a troubling pattern seen with LIV Golf and FIFA in relation to the 2022 World Cup. This strategy of sportswashing involves slowly eroding ethics and patiently waiting for public outrage to fade away. The goal is for these countries to win by normalizing their actions, while we as fans continue to support the sports and entertainment we love, without questioning the hypocrisy involved. For example, there is no discussion of Qatar’s human rights record when ESPN reports on the Qatari connection to Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Nor is there mention of the treatment of women, the criminalization of same-sex relationships, or the mistreatment of migrant workers in Qatar. All of these ethical concerns are conveniently swept under the rug in exchange for cash. As these partnerships continue to happen, the public becomes fatigued and accepts these actions as the norm. The expectation is that we will turn a blind eye and forget about the human rights violations associated with these deals. This gradual acceptance allows companies like Monumental Sports & Entertainment to partner with Qatar while conveniently ignoring the contradictions between their values and actions. The pursuit of Qatari money signals that Monumental Sports & Entertainment is willing to overlook these issues and believes that over time, fans will still support their teams without much concern for the ethical implications. If the PGA Tour can merge with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and overlook the kingdom’s record of executions and human rights abuses, then it is unlikely that NFL teams will suddenly grow a conscience when faced with a similar opportunity. More of these partnerships are surely on the horizon, and the trend suggests that ethical concerns will be pushed further down the line as these lucrative deals continue to be made. This slow process of sportswashing may take time, but the teams and leagues are willing to tolerate the accompanying dirt for the sake of financial gain.
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