FC Barcelona raises concerns over potential severe penalties for LGBTQ fans during travel in Saudi Arabia
Barcelona advises LGBTQ fans to exercise caution and respect local customs while traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup semifinal
Traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Osasuna, Barcelona has urged fans to be cautious and respectful of the country's customs and traditions. The team's website released a statement on Monday, advising spectators to exercise prudence and discretion while also warning of severe penalties for openly supporting the LGBTQ community.
Same-sex sexual activity is considered a crime in Saudi Arabia, as reported by Human Rights Watch.
According to a statement from Barça, individuals are encouraged to show respect and discretion when displaying public signs of affection. The club stated that it was following the guidance of the Spanish Embassy in Riyadh.
"Indecent behaviour, including any action of a sexual nature, can lead to severe legal consequences for foreigners.
Real Madrid's Joselu celebrates after Atletico Madrid's Stefan Savic scores an own goal, leading to Real Madrid's fourth goal at the Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on January 10, 2024. (Source: REUTERS/Juan Medina)
Juan Medina/Reuters
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"Same-sex relationships and public support for LGBTI causes can result in severe penalties, including on social media. Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, has criticized this advice, stating that it only underscores the challenges of hosting sporting events in the Gulf state."
"Worden emphasized that there is a lack of human rights protection for fans, players, journalists, and others attending sporting events in Saudi Arabia. This is a significant issue, and it is essential to thoroughly assess the potential risks that individuals may encounter." Worden's statement was reported by The Guardian and confirmed by CNN.
She stated, "There is a lack of information available for women fans, possibly due to the assumption that they either don't exist or have the same needs as male fans, which is simply not true.
"The Saudi guardianship system poses risks to women that are not being taken into consideration at all. Additionally, there is no mention of the potential risks in terms of information security."
Why Saudi Arabia is hosting
The RFEF signed a contract with Saudi Arabia in 2019 to host the Super Cup until 2029, a deal that is set to generate $34 million annually for the governing body, as reported by Reuters.
Amid the Gulf states spending spree as they strive to become a sporting powerhouse,
is receiving criticism for its treatment of LGBTQ people, women, and migrant workers, as well as its human rights record.
Lionel Messi of Argentina holds up the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Winner's Trophy after the final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Saudi Arabia is poised to host the 2034 World Cup after Australia has withdrawn its interest. In 2023, Amnesty International reported a regression in human rights in the country, with a heightened crackdown on freedom of expression and an uptick in the use of counterterrorism and cybercrime laws to suppress dissent. The organization noted an increase in criminal prosecutions during this period compared to previous years.
Amnesty reported the highest number of annual executions in Saudi Arabia in 30 years, with 196 people killed in 2022. In response to criticism about the country's human rights record, Saudi Arabia's sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, stated: "People who don't know Saudi Arabia, have never been to Saudi Arabia, go out and talk about it as if they've lived there for 30 years, 40 years. So I always tell people, come to Saudi. Come and see Saudi."
"He informed BBC Sport that we recognize this, and these events are aiding our transformation towards a brighter future for all. CNN Sport has contacted the Saudi Ministry of Sport for a response to Barcelona's statement, but has not received an immediate reply."
Barcelona, as the current Spanish Super Cup champion, defeated Real Madrid in the final in Riyadh last year. The winner of the match between Blaugrana and Osasuna on Thursday will battle Real Madrid in the final on Sunday. This comes after Los Blancos secured a 5-3 victory over Atlético Madrid on Wednesday.
During Wednesday's match, Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos was consistently booed by the Saudi fans every time he touched the ball. This was reportedly in response to comments made by the World Cup winner about the country's human rights record and weak domestic league.
In August 2023, Kroos told Sports Illustrated that Saudi Arabia's human rights record is the primary reason he would refuse to move to the country's Saudi Pro League (SPL) in the future. He also stated that players moving to the SPL are prioritizing money over the sport. Reporting contributions by CNN's Matias Grez and Sammy Mncwabe.
