Saudi Arabia Withdraws LIV Golf Funding in Major Sports Strategy Shift

Saudi Arabia will withdraw its multi-billion dollar backing from LIV Golf, marking a significant shift in the country's ambitious sports investment strategy. The decision raises questions about the sustainability of Saudi Arabia's other high-profile sporting ventures that have reshaped global sports in recent years.

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The Gulf nation has invested heavily in attracting major sporting events and star athletes across multiple disciplines. This latest move away from LIV Golf suggests a potential recalibration of those ambitious plans.

BBC Sport's Dan Roan reports that the withdrawal from the controversial golf league comes amid scrutiny over Saudi Arabia's sporting ambitions. The country had poured billions into various sports as part of Vision 2030, an initiative aimed at diversifying the economy away from oil dependency.

The decision to exit LIV Golf could have ripple effects across the sporting landscape. Other investments in football, boxing, motorsport and other disciplines may face similar reassessment, according to the report.

The development represents a notable reversal for Saudi Arabia's sports investment programme, which had fundamentally altered the golf world since LIV Golf's launch.