Each year wait on the new gamblers starved to the latest version of the FIFA video game. EA Sports proudly announced finally to take the Saudi League. Irritated the players ask yourself: why?

The football world revolves only around a man: to Lionel Messi. He is the measure of all things, for the third time in a row, he won the title of world football. In the virtual world of kicking, the 25-year exceptional talent sits on the throne. EA Sports has made the little man a great cover star. That has let the Argentines probably never dream up: to be a cover model. If one is FIFA World Player, you have to be also no pretty boy à la Ronaldo for this. How must the pain for a Dribbelköning such as Cristiano. It is an eternal struggle with Messi to the Golden Boot title, in the él Classicó. Just in front of the mirror, the fight seemed clear to go out, but not when it comes to the cover of FIFA 13 game. Because it is about football, not about hair gel. Or?

Very briefly this illusion can be maintained. There were persistent rumors that the Saudi League should be included in the elite circle of the virtual Leagues since April. Allegedly, the makers will be flown to Saudi Arabia to have photographed all football player. Last Friday it was now officially EA Sports: "Pride we announce that we will take up also the League of Saudi Arabia from FIFA 13." Usually the joy this time isn't great when that announces EA Sports to record new leagues and teams. What is it about here? Good little about football, neither quality nor to the guys in front of the screens. This may play a League from an Arab country in any case. Finally the Arab world is according to a survey of by Reuters now to the fastest growing gaming community ever. 60 Percent of the 350 million people in the Arab world are younger than 25, 70 million of you have an Internet connection. In the next three years, this is expected to increase to 150 million. It doesn't matter where you look out, whether in the rich Gulf States or the poor Yemen: young people find time against each other before the screen to kick; a good reason for the FIFA towards the Arab world to think. The question remains: why the Saudi League?

Qatar vs Saudi Arabia

Unquestionably, the most famous and arguably best League of the region comes from Egypt. Just shone the national team at the Olympics 2012 in London, reached the quarter-finals. The team long has been known almost closed in the domestic leagues, against each other in the big clubs al to play Ahly and Zamalek – players are household names. Al-Ahly has led FIFA 12 under the heading 'Other teams'! On the FIFA world rankings climbed the country to 40th place. In comparison, Saudi Arabia is far back on space 104. Also leagues from Qatar and the Emirates were not absurd. Finally, numerous international stars due to immense fees at the golf change. And since living in Dubai or Doha is tolerable, most great players do not decide just after Saudi Arabia to go. Last known change of a player's from the Bundesliga to the Gulf was Schalke crowd favorite Raúl. This season moved the 35 Järhige to the Club al-Saad in Qatar. In comparison: Thiago Neves of the HSV considered last really notable transfer to Saudi Arabia. For the cyber world, especially just to the Arab world and at the same time to use the West, much of Qatar or Dubai would speak.


Saudi Arabia stands in front of the console in the final

For FIFA, it goes but, as so often, just for the money. Certainly, the country has paid large sums for the licenses to the game. Maybe even the World Cup takes place 2026 in Saudi Arabia, since Qatar, anything is possible. At the end, but still the question remains: who wants to play with the Saudi clubs? The Saudis themselves? The annual World Championships of the console game held since 2004 - the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC). Cyberspieler virtually compete from around the world. The competition is more and more popular in the Arab world. This year found even qualifying in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the Lebanon - about a million players worldwide year competed in this. In the finals of this year's FIFA, also a player from Saudi Arabia was one of the 24 finalists 12 World Championships in Dubai. Majid Mohammed Salim joined, on as many, with the team of Real Madrid. And it just comes well before the console: dealing with stars, it is about class and quality. None of this has the Saudi League, it has no general rectification in this game.