As reported by The Guardian, Barcelona footballers are castigating plans for a Women’s Supercopa to be held in Saudi Arabia. The Women’s Supercopa de España, also known as the Spanish Super Cup, is a football tournament in Spain. The current version has been contested since 2020 by four teams: the winners and runners-up of the Copa del Rey and La Liga.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has reportedly been negotiating with Saudi Arabia to extend their agreement to play the Men’s Supercopa semi-finals and final away from Spain until at least 2034 and include the Women’s competition too. However, Barcelona players are denouncing plans to hold the Women’s Supercopa in Saudi Arabia, citing concerns about the country’s women’s rights records.
Midfielder, Patri Guijarro, expressed: “Taking the Supercopa outside of Spain and to a country that doesn’t respect women? I don’t see it.”
Barcelona won their fifth Supercopa on Sunday, defeating Real Madrid 5-0 in front of 9,425 fans in Butarque. It was the fourth consecutive year they lifted the trophy. However, this victory was somewhat overshadowed by discussions over the super cup’s future with concerns focusing on the safety and rights of women.
As reported by The Guardian, when Real Madrid competed against Mallorca in the Men’s Supercopa semi-final in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of January, Cristina Palavara, the wife of Mallorca footballer Dani Rodríguez, called out the sexual aggression she received from locals upon leaving the stadium: “As soon as the match finished, they started taunting us. There was no type of security. They laughed in our faces, touched our faces and they even grabbed women’s bums. It was chaos until we reached the buses.”
The Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll, who is from Mallorca, voiced after the Men’s Supercopa: “I am very aware of what the partners of the Mallorca players suffered. This has to be looked into. As female players it’s not just the act of going. It’s the trip, the people in the stadiums and of course, women’s rights.”
In contrast, the RFEF president, Rafael Louzán has expressed support for the idea of a Women’s Supercopa in Saudi Arabia, arguing that the country is looking to develop women’s football. He said: “A women’s Supercopa in Saudi Arabia, why not?” His argument is that the Saudis want to develop women’s football in their country.
Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas, among others, questioned Louzán’s perspective suggesting that financial motivations may be driving his stance. She expressed: “I’m starting to get the feeling that this is only a woman’s fight…
If we go there, it’s obviously for an economic reason. If you don’t go, you’re affected by not having that income, so it’s difficult to grow and you have to put up with ‘you don’t generate anything’.”
The Athletic Bilbao coach, David Aznar, also expressed frustration: “We are slaves to decisions and where they send us.”
According to Footboom, The Spanish Footballers Association (AFE) issued a statement opposing the relocation to Saudi Arabia, arguing it would effectively whitewash the absolute monarchy of the Saud family, among other issues.
