Riyadh Season Becomes Official Sponsor of La Liga

The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) logo
The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) logo
TT

Riyadh Season Becomes Official Sponsor of La Liga

The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) logo
The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) logo

Riyadh Season has signed a three-season partnership agreement with the Spanish football league, La Liga, making Riyadh Season the league's official sponsor.

La Liga is considered one of the strongest leagues in the world.

The agreement was signed by General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Chief Executive Engineer Faisal Bafarat, and La Liga president Javier Tebas, the Saudi Press Agency reported Tuesday.

The partnership represents a significant step in Riyadh Season's journey towards global reach. The season aims to provide exceptional events that position the Kingdom as a leading global entertainment destination, with generous support from the wise leadership for the entertainment sector and various other sectors, SPA said.

The partnership, which is part of Riyadh Season's global presence, aims to organize promotional activities and events for both brands and implement joint initiatives between the two parties. The focus will be on football fans and visitors to Riyadh Season, enhancing the season's attractiveness as a global destination.

La Liga’s Tebas affirmed the Kingdom's importance as a strategic region for the league. He pointed to the great passion that football fans in Saudi Arabia have for the Spanish league and added that the league seeks to enhance the growth of the sports and entertainment industry in the Kingdom by supporting distinguished initiatives such as Riyadh Season.

La Liga global ambassador David Villa expressed his confidence that the partnership with Saudi Arabia will open new horizons for cooperation. He stressed that football in the Kingdom has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years, making it an ideal partner.



Italian Banned for 10 Matches for Racist Abuse of Wolves Striker Hwang

Wolverhampton Wanderers' South Korean striker #11 Hwang Hee-chan reacts during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on September 28, 2024. (AFP)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' South Korean striker #11 Hwang Hee-chan reacts during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on September 28, 2024. (AFP)
TT

Italian Banned for 10 Matches for Racist Abuse of Wolves Striker Hwang

Wolverhampton Wanderers' South Korean striker #11 Hwang Hee-chan reacts during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on September 28, 2024. (AFP)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' South Korean striker #11 Hwang Hee-chan reacts during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on September 28, 2024. (AFP)

Italian defender Marco Curto has been banned for 10 matches for racially abusing South Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan while playing for Como against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a pre-season friendly in July.

Curto, who is currently on loan from Como to Serie B club Cesena, will serve half of the punishment immediately with the other half suspended for two years.

"The player Marco Curto was found responsible for discriminatory behavior and sanctioned with a 10-match suspension," a FIFA spokesperson said.

"The player is ordered to render community services and undergo training and education with an organization approved by FIFA."

Wolves said the club would file a complaint with UEFA after the incident in the Spanish resort of Marbella that sparked an angry response from Hwang's teammates and led to the dismissal of winger Daniel Podence for punching a Como player.

"We welcome FIFA's decision to sanction Marco Curto following the discriminatory incident during our pre-season friendly against Como 1907," the Premier League club's Director of Football Matt Wild said in a statement.

"The suspension issued to the player sends a clear message that racism and discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated in football or society.

"Wolves will always stand firmly against racism and discrimination in any form, and we remain fully committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected and included."

Como representatives were not immediately available for comment outside business hours.

In July, while condemning racism, Como said that Curto had referred to Hwang as "Jackie Chan" - the Hong Kong movie star - after hearing the Wolves players calling the forward by his nickname, "Channy".

"As far as our club is concerned our player did not say anything in a derogatory manner," the club said. "We are disappointed that the reaction of certain Wolves players has seen the incident blown out of proportion."

At the last FIFA Congress in Bangkok in May, President Gianni Infantino launched what he described as a "global stand against racism".

The governing body promised five areas of action, including mandatory sanctions for incidents of racism in or around matches.

"Racism is a scourge that exists in our society and is one also that is infiltrated in football," Infantino told the gathering of football officials from around the world.

"For too long we were not capable of dealing with it in an appropriate way. We need to stand up and fight racism and defeat racism all together."