Published 2 days ago • loading... • Updated 22 hours ago

NBA Cup Faces Pressure to Terminate Its Partnership with Emirates over UAE’s Alleged Role in Sudan Crisis

On Tuesday, the Emirates NBA Cup final in Las Vegas highlights a petition by multiple human rights groups urging the National Basketball Association to drop Emirates airline, campaigners since 2024.
Amid allegations of UAE backing for the RSF, campaigners say the deal is "sportswashing" that conceals suffering and accuse the UAE of providing military support, claims it denies.
Mutasim Ali appealed to the court of public opinion, saying, `We're appealing to the court of public opinion,` while Mark Tatum defended the Emirates airline partnership as `consistent with the NBA's mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the game of basketball.`
Campaigners say public pressure could force commercial reconsideration by the NBA, arguing the league risks becoming a pawn distracting from UAE actions amid alleged atrocities and blocked humanitarian access by Sudanese warring parties including SAF and RSF.
With a UN panel finding allegations credible last year, diplomatic scrutiny has intensified as Muawia Osman alleged UAE support for the RSF in an ICJ filing, while UAE stresses geostrategic aims.

Insights by Ground AI

11 Articles

CNN

+9 Reposted by 9 other sources

Lean Left

NBA Cup faces pressure to terminate its partnership with Emirates over UAE’s alleged role in Sudan crisis

Multiple human rights organizations are petitioning the National Basketball Association (NBA) to drop Dubai’s government-owned Emirates airline as a sponsor of the league’s in-season tournament, the Emirates NBA Cup, due to allegations of sportswashing.

23 hours ago·Atlanta, United States

Read Full Article