Saudi Pro League side Neom SC paying fake fans

L’Équipe are reporting that Neom SC are paying fake fans to make noise in the stadium during matches. 

Neom, who earned promotion to the Saudi Pro League last season, have had a Ligue 1 focus in their recruitment in recent months. After Said Benrahma joined from Olympique Lyonnais in January, the likes of Alexandre Lacazette (formerly of Lyon), Marcin Bulka (formerly of OGC Nice), Nathan Zézé (formerly of FC Nantes), Saimon Bouabré (formerly of AS Monaco), and Amadou Koné (formerly of Stade de Reims) all joined over the summer. All are managed by a familiar face to French fans, former Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier. 

It is a club, like the region in which they play, that is in the process of construction. They currently play in Tabuk, with the city of Neom a project that is yet to be fully realised. A novel club, Neom SC are yet to gather a following. 

As a result, L’Équipe understands that the club are paying for fake supporters to be in the stands of their stadium. One of those fans, speaking to the publication, reveals that he receives instructions over WhatsApp, has an attributed number, and earns €11 an evening for supporting the club. It is in front of this crowd of fake supporters that the fans celebrate, in the event of victory, post-match. 

It is a practice that is not uncommon among Saudi clubs, who invest in order to avoid empty stadiums. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle