The lawsuit and its origins
Sela, a Saudi entertainment conglomerate owned by the Public Investment Fund, has filed a lawsuit in England’s commercial court against Fanatics Studios, the sports‑media division of Fanatics. The dispute centres on a flag‑football showcase that was to feature NFL star Tom Brady and a lineup of current and former players.
Originally scheduled for March in Riyadh, the event was postponed after Saudi officials, wary of U.S. strikes on Iran, urged a year‑long delay. Fanatics instead staged the game in the Los Angeles area on March 21, ignoring the Saudi recommendation and prompting the legal challenge.
The case remains sealed under English law, meaning the filings have not been formally served to Fanatics Studios, which declined to comment. Sela, represented by law firms Wiggin and Skadden, has not released further details, and neither the conglomerate nor its legal team responded to requests for comment.
The showcase included players such as Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels and Rob Gronkowski, alongside digital influencers Logan Paul and iShowSpeed. Broadcast on Fox, the game attracted roughly 650,000 viewers, underscoring the rising popularity of flag football.
Broader implications
The lawsuit coincides with the Public Investment Fund’s broader strategic shifts, including a planned pull‑back from funding LIV Golf, and reflects the NFL’s ambition to embed flag football in the Olympic programme, slated for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.