According to Amnesty International, women were considered second-class citizens, always under the guardianship of men and “forced to obey their husbands.” Homosexuality is forbidden and is persecuted, even punished with death. Rights to freedom of expression and association are censored by the authorities. All this in Saudi Arabia, the country that will receive the Spanish Super Cup for the fourth time from this Wednesday and where Real Madrid, Atlético, Osasuna and FC Barcelona are fighting to win it after an agreement of 40 million per edition until 2029. A number that ends up in the coffers of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and is distributed among the participating teams. In fact, the Culé club is at the center of controversy after publishing a series of recommendations to the fans and members who will travel to Riyadh for the competition.
“It is recommended to show respect and prudence in public behavior and displays of affection. Lewd behavior, including any sexual act, could have legal consequences for foreigners. Relationships between people of the same sex and expressions of support for the LGBTBI community, including on social networks, can also be grounds for sanctions,” the Barcelona Declaration reads, among other things.
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“It is unimaginable that recommendations are made in the logic of the oppressive country, up to the deprivation of its freedoms,” said Eugeni Rodríguez, president of l'Observatori contra l'LGTBI-fòbia. From the organization they have contacted the member's defender and the Barça management. The Barça club assures that these are recommendations sent to it by the Spanish Embassy and that its commitment to the rights of the LGTBIQ+ group has not changed. However, participating in the competition and making recommendations is contrary to Article 4.3 of the Barça Statutes: “The Club will ensure the protection and promotion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights contained in the International Charter of Human Rights promulgated by the United Nations An article recorded in 2021 under Joan Laporta's second term added that the club will “promote the democratic values of equality and non-discrimination” and also advocate for “the eradication of all sexists, homophobes and racists” uses settings”.
“When we saw it, we were surprised. This is not what we are used to from Barça. “This shows that we have to keep working,” said Alberto Martín, president of Panteras Grogues, an LGTBI sports club that has worked with the Barça club for two years. “We ask ourselves why these competitions are taking place in these countries, why the association is bringing a local competition to these places. Do human rights have a price?” Martín added.
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It was former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales, who is under investigation for sexually harassing Jennifer Hermoso, who, along with Gerard Piqué, suggested moving the local competition to the Middle East. And precisely from the RFEF they have tried to promote initiatives within the framework of the “Football is the Way” campaign on the occasion of the celebration of the Super Cup: courses for female coaches – in the presence of the coach Montse Tomé -, conversations and meetings with the coach just two years ago founded Saudi women's senior national team. A series of orchestrated actions with which they cleanse the image of Spanish football by traveling to Arabia. “We believe that economic interests transcend the boundaries of human rights for ethical reasons,” Rodríguez concluded. From Wednesday, Barça, Real Madrid, Atlético and Osasuna will play the fourth Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Everything between controversies.
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