Barnes feels 'retired players' won't make the Saudi Pro-League big - McAllister it'll only get better though.
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00:00 football has always been big all over the world,
00:01 since the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s.
00:03 Now because of the media attention,
00:04 you're looking at what's going on in Saudi Arabia.
00:06 China, 10 years ago, people were going to China.
00:08 Now they're going to Saudi Arabia.
00:09 But once again, like America, just getting some retired
00:12 players, or players who want to go for the money to go there,
00:16 and the other 10 players in the team, or 8 players in the team,
00:19 or 15 players in the squad may not be as good.
00:22 It isn't necessarily-- it's more to make
00:23 a statement of being able to attract superstar players
00:28 there.
00:28 That's not necessarily going to grow the league.
00:30 And Saudi Arabia has been doing well internationally anyway,
00:33 in qualifying for the World Cup.
00:34 In fact, they're the only team to beat Argentina.
00:36 So once again, that's very similar to what
00:38 goes on in America.
00:39 If ex-players, or players coming towards the end of their career
00:41 want to make a lot of money, they do that.
00:43 That doesn't necessarily impact on the local football.
00:46 Well, the thing is, over the past 10 years,
00:52 and maybe more, the fact that Saudi
00:55 has been able to persuade Formula One to go there,
00:59 all the big heavyweight championship
01:01 bouts are being brought there.
01:06 And obviously, what's happened recently with World Golf,
01:11 they want to be involved in world sport.
01:16 And obviously, I read what you read.
01:19 The financial rewards and what can happen there financially
01:23 is a big-- it's a professional sport thing.
01:25 So I don't think it's going to go away.
01:29 I think they'll continue to try and invest in all sports
01:32 right across the board.