International Esports Federation Appoints HRH Prince Faisal as Acting President

The International Esports Federation (IESF) has appointed HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud as its acting president, effective October 2023. Prince Faisal, who previously served as the organization’s global vice president, succeeds Vlad Marinescu. This leadership transition follows a period of controversy for the IESF, which faced significant criticism regarding its recent event hosting in Romania and the decision to reinstate Russia as a full member despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The appointment establishes a direct link between the IESF and the Saudi Arabian government. Prince Faisal currently holds leadership positions within the Saudi Esports Federation, the Global Esports Federation, and the Arab Esports Federation. Because he is a member of the Saudi royal family and the Saudi government’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns Savvy Games Group—the parent company of major industry entities like ESL FACEIT Group and VSPO—this move creates an unprecedented intersection between a global esports governing body and a state-controlled sovereign wealth fund.

Industry analysts note that this development could influence the future direction of the IESF, including potential discussions regarding the relocation of its headquarters from South Korea to Saudi Arabia. The appointment has drawn scrutiny from observers concerned about the alignment of Western-facing esports organizations with the policies and human rights record of the Saudi government. This shift marks a notable departure from previous governance models, as it represents the first instance of an international esports federation outside the Middle East and North Africa region maintaining such direct personal and financial ties to a national government.