CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- The ABC11 I-Team has learned that University of North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi made an international fundraising trip before the season.

Lombardi was hired in December 2024 to work as GM alongside new head coach Bill Belichick.

The I-Team has confirmed that Lombardi took a preseason fundraising trip to Saudi Arabia.

In a statement to ABC11, Dean Stoyer, UNC Vice Chancellor for Communications & Marketing, confirmed that Lombardi "did travel to Saudi Arabia at the request of a Saudi national who is a college football fan, interested in supporting Coach Belichick."

The university also said Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) was "not involved" in Lombardi's trip.

PIF has been called out by human rights groups and congression

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