SPORTS AGENDA: Saudi Arabian officials make a bid to conquer eSports as Pro League clubs hold talks to be represented in a gaming league

We’ve seen the growth of the Saudi Pro League this summer – and now officials are lining up a Saudi Pro League of eSports.

Gaming is huge in the Middle Eastern country thanks to its youthful population. Saudi is already a global capital for eSports events, with the recent Gamers8 series offering prize money of around £12 million.

Agenda has been informed that preliminary talks have taken place about the representation of each Pro League club in a new competition. Players from both sides could go head-to-head in stadiums as their match was shown on the big screen – before the actual matches between the two clubs.

On YouTube, an audience of up to two million is expected. At a recent World Cup tournament in Riyadh’s Boulevard City, one game had to be played behind closed doors after players complained that the excited crowd scared them off.

Saudi’s Public Investment Fund, whose cash injection has seen four clubs raid Europe in search of big names, has an 8.26 percent stake in Nintendo.

It comes after the recent Gamers8 eSports series offered prize money of around £12 million

Agenda understands that preliminary talks have taken place with Saudi Pro League football clubs to see if both sides are represented in the new competition

Airline backed by PIF becomes new Atletico shirt sponsor

Last week, new kid on the aviation bloc Riyadh Air announced a shirt sponsorship deal with Atletico Madrid.

The airline, backed by PIF funding, will not fly for 18 months but plans to become the largest in the Middle East.

Atletico’s sponsorship is their first, and it is clear that more will follow. Officials are looking at various partnership options, including in the Premier League.

Although PIF are the main owners of Newcastle United, there are no rules to prevent such deals.

Man City goalkeeper speaks of racism trauma

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Alex Williams has a book which goes into gripping detail about life as the top flight’s first black goalkeeper.

Williams, who made his City debut in 1981 aged 19, writes in You Saw Me Standing Alone that the club once engaged comedian Bernard Manning to negotiate a sponsorship deal with Saab.

Williams says Manning pointed to him and defender Clive Wilson and said, “If you win the league you’ll all get a Saab, but we might be a few short, so you won’t get one.” ‘ elicits laughter from the rest of the squad.

There is also a story of Everton fans setting fire to a newspaper, mimicking the Ku Klux Klan, as well as a sweet story of Williams playing for West Ham at the age of 20 and being cheered on by the home players and fans.

Players from both Pro League sides can go head-to-head before their clubs take to the pitch

Meanwhile, Edouard Mendy, Al-Ahli’s new signing, played during his club’s 3-1 win against Al-Hazm

Edouard Mendy’s blunder in the opening game of the Pro League

Not the best start for former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who made a blunder in the opening game of the Saudi Pro League as his Al-Ahli side beat Al-Hazm 3-1.

After the match, a plastic drinking bottle containing a smoothie was dropped in the players’ tunnel and splashed across the marble floor.

Mendy was nearby, but witnesses insisted he was not the culprit.

This weekend saw the return of the Saudi Pro League, but Cristiano Ronaldo (center) may not be in Al-Nassr’s opening game against Al-Ettifaq on Monday night

PSG accept Al-Hilal’s offer for Neymar

Neymar could become the latest big name to move from Europe to the Middle East after Al-Hilal accepted a bid from Paris Saint-Germain.

If the Brazilian were to decide to go, it would be further evidence of the Qatar-owned club’s change of direction.

With Lionel Messi in Miami and Kylian Mbappe also departing, whether this summer or in 12 months, the shift in recruitment means they are now targeting young, mainly French, players. Manchester United fans may be watching with interest.

Paris Saint-Germain have accepted Al-Hilal’s offer for Brazilian striker Neymar (pictured)

Taylor Swift was indirectly involved in the bid to host the World Cup final

Taylor Swift has been indirectly dragged into the fight to host the next World Cup final.

Bad blood exists between New York and Dallas, whose MetLife and AT&T stadiums are vying for the right to host the 2026 showpiece.

The focus is on an investigation into the increase in traffic delays around venues where the American singer performed on her recent sold-out Eras Tour.

The report found that AT&T was the second-worst stadium on the track, with a nearly 300 percent increase in traffic delays due to congestion around the stadium – unlike MetLife, which saw investment in transportation options see a drop in traffic compared to normal.

Taylor Swift (pictured left) accidentally dragged into a battle to host the 2026 World Cup final

Pro League is the boss in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi takeover of Newcastle made headlines around the world, but domestic play is still rampant in the Kingdom.

On Saturday night, all eyes were on the Arab Club Champions Cup final between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, which took place as Newcastle beat Aston Villa.

A Jeddah sports bar showed the final on all of its dozen screens, except one – which broadcast replays of American college football games.