Paul Pogba’s funding in camel racing met with backlash: Animal rights group blast star’s resolution to maneuver into ‘merciless’ business as he’s sarcastically instructed to take up interest horsing as an alternative

An animal rights group has heavily criticised Paul Pogba after he made the extraordinary decision to invest in camel racing.

The former Manchester United star, who now plays for Monaco after his 18-month doping ban, became a shareholder and ambassador of Saudi Arabian camel racing team Al-Haboob last week.

His investment has since been blasted by animal rights organisation PETA, who have written a public letter to the 2018 World Cup winner urging him to reconsider.

Camel racing, a sport which has raised concerns over animal welfare, sees the desert-dwelling undulates reach top speeds of 40mph. 

‘Dear Paul. We recently learned of your decision to become a shareholder and ambassador for a camel racing team, and we wanted to draw your attention to the particularly cruel realities behind this industry,’ Isabelle Goetz, Public Relations Officer for PETA France, said in a statement.

‘Many are still unaware of the extent to which these practices rely on the suffering of sentient animals, and we hope this information will encourage you to reconsider your involvement in this field.

‘Indeed, in camel racing, the camels endure a daily life far removed from the traditional or glamorous image sometimes portrayed. Taken from their mothers prematurely or domesticated too early, young camels are then subjected to coercive training methods designed to make them docile and high-performing.

‘They suffer frequent injuries: overused joints, racing accidents, infections, dehydration, and constant stress. Their lives are dictated by constraint, and their ‘career’ often ends with abandonment, sale, or slaughter when they are no longer profitable. 

‘These are gentle, intelligent, and naturally calm animals who have no way of understanding what is being imposed upon them. 

‘You speak of sacrifice in sports. In football, it’s about discipline, effort, and personal choices. But here, the sacrifice is entirely borne by innocent beings who never chose to be exploited or transformed into competitive products.’

The organisation continued by sarcastically suggesting the ex-Juventus midfielder should take up hobby horsing instead to satisfy his interest in equestrian sports. 

Hobby horsing is a recreational sport where participants ride toy horses, typically mounted on wooden sticks, and perform a variety of equestrian activities while  mimicking the movements and techniques of traditional horseback riding. 

‘Allow us to suggest, with a touch of good-natured irony, an absolutely harmless alternative: hobby horsing . A sport where participants gallop… on hobby horses,’ the statement continued.

‘Spectacular, creative, and above all: no camels, no horses, no animals are involved. Now that’s an investment that would perfectly combine originality and respect for life.’

Pogba has not yet responded to the public letter. 

Opening up on his unique interest in camel racing, he told BBC Sport: ‘I’ve watched my fair share of [camel] races on YouTube and spent time doing research in my spare time trying to understand the techniques and strategies.

‘And what stood out to me is how much dedication it takes from everyone involved. At the end of the day, sport is sport. It demands heart, sacrifice and teamwork.

‘People might not realise it, but sport always connects in some way. Whether it’s football, camel racing, boxing – the foundations are similar. You need determination, you need focus, you need discipline and grit. That’s what makes champions at the end of the day.’

Al Haboob are the world’s first professional camel racing team and compete on the international stage.

They compete in the Gulf Cooperation Council (involving Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) and wish to establish a fully professional league. 

It is hard to establish which camel has the honour of being the most expensive ever but the hoofed, humpbacked mammals do sell for as much as £3.75million. 

Pogba, who was once the world’s priciest player when he joined Manchester United from Juventus for £89million in 2016, said: ‘Being the world’s most expensive footballer was an honour, but it also came with a lot of hard work, pressure and responsibility.

‘Owning the world’s most expensive camel one day would be a beautiful full-circle moment – something fun, something meaningful and something that excites me. Maybe one day we make it happen.’

Pogba returned to competitive action on November 22, coming on late in a 4-1 defeat by Rennes, after his doping ban which he described to Daily Mail Sport as ‘hell’. 

He had given a four-year doping ban in September 2023 which was later slashed to just 18 months. His £200,000-per-week contract with Juventus was ripped up and though he was eligible to play from March onwards, it took him until June to land at Monaco. 

His outing against Rennes was his first in 811 days. He always insisted that his doping had been an accident. 

‘Paul’s involvement is transformational,’ said Al Haboob’s co-founder Omar Almaeena, who began the enterprise in 2018 with Safwan Modir.

‘His influence, leadership, and passion for cultural storytelling reflect exactly what Al Haboob stands for. This partnership is about more than racing; it is about sharing a heritage that deserves global recognition.’