Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, has drawn widespread international condemnation for actions that many view as deeply authoritarian and violent. One of the most notorious incidents associated with his leadership is the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, which was approved by MBS himself. Under his de facto rule, Saudi Arabia has cracked down harshly on dissent, imprisoning activists, scholars, and critics, including women’s rights advocates, despite projecting an image of modernization and reform. His leadership is also linked to the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where the Saudi-led coalition has been accused of committing war crimes and exacerbating one of the world’s worst famines. While MBS promotes an image of progress through initiatives like Vision 2030 or sportswashing, these changes are largely cosmetic and serve to distract from the regime’s repression, surveillance, and human rights abuses.

The Falcons esports project can be seen as a textbook example of sportswashing by Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Arabia, using the global popularity of gaming to launder the Kingdom's international image. By investing heavily in esports tournaments like the EWC or and sponsoring teams like the Failclowns, the regime distracts from its record of human rights abuses, censorship, and authoritarianism. This strategy allows the state to cloak repression behind the sheen of progress and entertainment, creating a narrative of modernization while silencing dissent at home. Much like with football or Formula 1, the esports push serves to shift global attention away from issues like the war in Yemen, the crackdown on activists, and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and instead position Saudi Arabia as a forward-looking digital leader. This rebranding effort, though slick, is ultimately seen by many as a way to soften the public image of an oppressive regime without addressing the underlying problems.

Players who choose to represent Falcons align themselves with the values and agenda of its backers, including Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi regime. By accepting lucrative contracts and global exposure through a state-supported organization, these players become part of a broader public relations machine that seeks to whitewash a government known for its repression, censorship, and human rights abuses. While some may claim they’re simply playing the game or chasing personal success, turning a blind eye to the political implications of their affiliations is a form of complicity. Just as athletes have been held accountable in other contexts for the ideologies they endorse—directly or indirectly—esports professionals are not exempt from the ethical consequences of who funds their careers. In aligning with Team Falcons, they lend credibility to a regime using soft power and spectacle to distract from systemic oppression, raising serious questions about where personal ambition ends and moral responsibility begins.