Barcelona recommends avoiding “indecent behavior” and homosexual relations in Saudi Arabia

Women considered second-class citizens, always under the guardianship of the man and “forced to obey their husband,” according to Amnesty International. Homosexuality prohibited and persecuted, even punishable by death. Rights to freedom of expression and association censored by the authorities. All this in Saudi Arabia, the country that will receive the Spanish Super Cup for the fourth time starting this Wednesday and in which Real Madrid, Atlético, Osasuna and FC Barcelona will compete to win it after an agreement of 40 million per edition until 2029. A figure that lands in the coffers of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and that it distributes among the participating teams. Precisely, the culé club is at the center of the controversies after publishing a series of recommendations to those supporters and members who will travel to Riyadh for the competition.

“It is recommended to have respect and prudence in public behavior and demonstrations of affection. Indecent behavior, including any act of a sexual nature, could have legal consequences for foreigners. Relationships between people of the same sex and displays of support for the LGTBI community, even on social networks, may also be grounds for sanctions,” he expresses, among other points, Barcelona's statement.

“It is inconceivable that recommendations are made in the logic of the oppressive country, to the point of depriving its freedoms,” said Eugeni Rodríguez, president of l'Observatori contra l'LGTBI-fòbia. From the organization they have addressed the member's defender, and the Barça management. The Barça club assures that these are the recommendations that have been sent to them from the Spanish embassy, ​​and that their commitment to the rights of the LGTBIQ+ group has not changed. But participation in the competition and the issuance of recommendations conflict with article 4.3 of the Barça Statutes: “The club will ensure the protection and promotion of the universal declaration of human rights included in the international charter of human rights proclaimed by the United Nations. An article incorporated in 2021 under the second term of Joan Laporta, and which added that the club “will promote the democratic values ​​of equality and non-discrimination”, in addition to fighting for “the eradication of all sexist, homophobic and racist attitudes” .

“When we saw it we were surprised. It is not what we are used to receiving from Barça. What this does is show that we have to continue working,” said Alberto Martín, president of Panteras Grogues, an LGTBI sports club that has been collaborating with the Barça club for two years. “We wonder why these competitions take place in these countries, why the Federation brings a local competition to these places. Do human rights have a price?” added Martín.

It was the former president of the Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales – investigated for sexual harassment of Jennifer Hermoso – who, together with Gerard Piqué, proposed taking the local competition to the Middle East. And it is precisely from the RFEF that they have tried to promote initiatives under the “Football is the way” campaign on the occasion of the celebration of the Super Cup: courses for women coaches – with the presence of the coach Montse Tomé -, talks and meetings with the Saudi women's senior team, created just two years ago. A set of orchestrated actions with which they clean the image of Spanish football by traveling to Arabia. “We believe that economic interests, for ethical reasons, transcend the barriers of human rights,” Rodríguez concluded. Starting on Wednesday, Barça, Real Madrid, Atlético and Osasuna will play the fourth Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. All between controversies.

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