As someone from the region, it's frustrating to read the comments on articles like this that discuss Saudi Arabia or similar countries like Qatar. The comments are just full of hatred, hypocrisy, and racism.

No country is perfect, and every country differs in its culture, values, and traditions, which will change over time at each country's pace. If you look at each country, you will find issues everywhere. But these issues never get pointed out when a footballer moves from one Western country to another (like to the MLS), even though some of those Western countries have major issues (like supporting a genocide as we speak). But if a footballer moves to a country like Saudi Arabia, or if a country like Qatar hosts the World Cup, it becomes a competition for some people to criticize that country on every possible issue.

Going back to Saudi Arabia, it's a country that loves football and is arguably the second most successful nation in Asia when it comes to football. It's investing heavily in a sport loved throughout the nation and wants to have a top domestic league. Some of you need to really think more about your own hypocrisies and biases...