Dutch football international Vivianne Miedema is among more than 100 professional women players to urge world football body Fifa to end its alliance with oil giant Saudi Aramco. 

In total 106 women from 24 countries have slammed the alliance, which was agreed in April, in an open letter to Fifa. The agreement includes sponsorship of both the men’s and women’s World Cups in 2026 and 2027.

Describing the move as a “middle finger to women’s soccer,” the letter also points out that gay players, “many of whom are heroes of our sport,” are at risk of persecution in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is a crime.

“The letter shows that this is what we players will not represent and accept within women’s football,” said Miedema, who now plays for Manchester City and has 120 caps for Oranje. “It is simple. This sponsorship goes against Fifa’s own obligations towards human rights and the planet.”

The letter is signed by the captains of the Canadian and Italian teams as well as former captains of the US and Afghan team.

Tessel Middag (Rangers), Loes Geurts (BK Häcken), Ziva Henry and Amber Verspaget (Feyenoord), Jill van den Ende and Manon van Raay (ADO Den Haag) are also among the signatories.

Saudi Aramco is the largest oil producer in the world and 98.5% owned by Saudi Arabia.