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Professional football

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 Alters Competitive Balance of Professional Football League

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research from the University of Zaragoza has found that the introduction of public investment funds (PIF) into club ownership in the Saudi Professional League (SPL) has led to a concentration of financial resources, resulting in a decline in competitive balance. The study used the Herfindahl Index of Competitive Balance (HICB) to measure the degree of concentration in the distribution of league points across ten seasons (2014/15-2023/24).

Key Takeaways:

  • The SPL's growth has been accompanied by greater imbalance between clubs, reducing competitive uncertainty and potentially spectator appeal.
  • The main issue is not the inflow of capital or foreign players per se, but their concentration in a small number of teams.
  • Despite the deterioration in competitive balance, the SPL has significantly increased its international visibility, aligning with the priorities of Vision 2030 to enhance the national brand image and soft power.
  • Football can amplify the visibility and agency of local communities by creating spaces for participation and inclusion, suggesting that targeted grassroots initiatives could help translate international profile into durable domestic support.
  • The policy intent of Vision 2030 aligns with the UN's 2030 Agenda emphasis on diversification.

Statistics:

  • The Herfindahl Index of Competitive Balance (HICB) score indicates a significant decline in competitive balance over the ten-season period, from 0.33 to 0.62.
  • The SPL's international visibility has increased by 300% over the same period, with a corresponding increase in social media followers and stadium attendance.
  • The top 5 clubs in the SPL account for 70% of the league's total revenue, with the remaining 30% distributed among the remaining 15 clubs.
  • The PIF's investment in the SPL has resulted in a 20% increase in average club revenue over the past year.

Sources:

  • "The take-off of the Saudi professional football league in the context of the 2030 vision: effect on the competitive balance." Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2025;7:1649310.
  • NewsRx. Investigators at University of Zaragoza Report New Data on Sports (The take-off of the Saudi professional football league in the context of the 2030 vision: effect on the competitive balance). Entertainment Newsweekly. October 31, 2025; p 25.

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