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Welcome to the Nutmeg, each week, you can expect: Exclusive previews of major football events – Spotlight features on top football creators – In-depth analysis of trending football culture.
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OIL STRIKE

FIFA’s partnership with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant Aramco has sparked outrage in the women’s football community. More than 100 professional players from around the world have signed an open letter, criticising the deal as a betrayal of women’s rights and the sport's values. Players like Vivianne Miedema and Jessie Fleming argued that FIFA’s decision feels like a "punch in the stomach" given Saudi Arabia’s poor track record on women’s and LGBTQ+ rights.

The controversy revolves around Saudi Arabia’s use of “sportswashing” to distract from its human rights issues. Critics point out that asking female players to represent a brand from a country where women’s rights are heavily restricted and LGBTQ+ people face persecution contradicts the progressive image FIFA has promoted.

FIFA defended its decision, highlighting that the revenue from these sponsorships is reinvested in football development, including women's initiatives. However, players and advocates maintain that FIFA is prioritizing money over genuine support for women’s football, arguing that a partnership with an oil company also ignores urgent climate concerns​.

The backlash highlights a growing divide between FIFA’s commercial strategies and the values of those on the field.

COLDPLAY COMMOTION

FC Barcelona’s limited-edition Coldplay jersey, created in collaboration with Spotify for the 2024-25 season, has become a hot ticket—literally. The kit, featuring Coldplay’s Moon Music logo, was launched ahead of the El Clásico match against Real Madrid on October 26. Priced at around €400, the special edition was available in limited quantities, with only 1,899 units produced​.

However, the excitement quickly turned sour as scalpers scooped up large portions of the stock, reselling them for exorbitant prices online. Fans who missed out have been frustrated, seeing prices soar well beyond the original. Barcelona’s official stores have sold out, and the secondary market is filled with marked-up jerseys, leading to outrage among fans who feel they’ve been priced out.

This isn’t the first time a Barcelona kit tied to a big artist has caused a frenzy. Previous collaborations with artists like Drake and Rosalía also saw similar scalping issues. Fans are now urging Barcelona and Spotify to find better ways to control releases and prevent resellers from monopolizing the market​.

RONALDO FACING CALLS FOR THE END

Cristiano Ronaldo, at nearly 40, is finally facing the music—his career is winding down, and not everyone is being subtle about it. Recently, ex-Liverpool player Dietmar Hamann bluntly stated that Ronaldo’s time at the top is ending, advising him to shift his focus to the team rather than his individual legacy. Hamann argued that Ronaldo should accept he might not hit the 1,000-goal milestone and instead prioritize supporting Portugal’s younger stars​.

Ronaldo himself has hinted that his retirement could come sooner rather than later. Playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, he acknowledged that the 2026 World Cup is likely out of reach for him, making Euro 2024 potentially his last major international tournament. Despite these admissions, Ronaldo remains confident, stating he’s happy in Saudi Arabia and could continue for another couple of years if his body allows​.

While some critics are quick to write off his career, Ronaldo’s form is still strong. He bagged the Golden Boot in the Saudi Pro League last season, proving he can still compete, even if it’s in a different setting than we’re used to seeing him. Whether he retires in one or three years, Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of greatness remains intact—just with a slightly different backdrop​.

Other news you shouldn’t let slip through your legs:

📉UEFA woes for the giants. Bayern Munich’s form under Vincent Kompany has been a rollercoaster. While the team had an impressive start to the season, recent stumbles, including a 4-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League, have sparked criticism. Fans are questioning whether Kompany’s high-intensity pressing style, reminiscent of his Burnley days, suits Bayern's squad. People are calling for him to get a coaching license.

🧘Wake up call. “When the doping ban happened, I realised what life is. ‘Paul Pogba, the famous guy, is no more.’ People were avoiding me. I used to get invited to fashion weeks and events like that. Now they were like ‘We can’t use Pogba’. My friends weren’t ringing like they way they were ringing before.” In a recent interview, the French star opened up about how his ban shook the world around him as well, not just his game.

🎤Maybe hips do lie. Shakira and Gerard Piqué’s breakup continues to make headlines even two years later. Shakira has claimed to be open about the emotional toll it took on her, describing the split as one of the most painful experiences of her life. Pique would disagree that everything was told the actual way that it went down. We don’t know if this iconic split will ever leave the public eye unfortunately.

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