Saudi women attend football game for the first time

Photo: Collected

Alone or accompanied by their families, many women sat in reserved seats in Jeddah’s Pearl stadium

Saudi Arabia allowed women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match Friday.  The new measure comes after Riyadh, announced it was lifting a ban prohibiting them from driving, as well as reopening cinemas.

Women supporters, all wearing the traditional black abaya robe, arrived well ahead of Friday’s kick-off in the Jeddah stadium, some in sunglasses and others with loose-fitting veils, reports the Khaleej Times.

The kingdom has announced a series of reforms initiated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since last year.

The first football match women are being allowed to attend is a clash between Saudi Premier League clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Batin in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

Alone or accompanied by their families, many women sat in reserved seats in Jeddah’s Pearl stadium.

Glass panels were set up to separate men supporters from the women and family section of the stadium.

Saleh al-Ziadi brought his three daughters to the game.

‘My daughters still don’t believe this is happening. They have not yet realised they will be cheering their favourite team inside the stadium,’ he said.

Enthusiasm for the historic encounter began well before the scheduled 8:00 pm kick-off.

Lamya Khaled Nasser, a 32-year-old football fan from Jeddah, said she was proud and looking forward to the match.

‘This event proves that we are heading for a prosperous future. I am very proud to be a witness of this massive change,’ she told AFP.

The Saudi government said last week women would be allowed to attend a second match on Saturday and a third next Thursday.

Hours before the game, Saudi clubs were encouraging women to attend through tweets on social media.

Some clubs are offering special abayas in team colours.

State-owned Saudi Airlines announced prizes of free tickets for five families who want to travel between cities to watch games. 

And a spokeswoman for the Saudi embassy in the United States tweeted her delight at the development. 

‘This is more than women’s rights: today’s match between Al-Ahli and Al-Batin, and the ones to follow, are opportunities for families to come together and enjoy KSA’s national sport - soccer!’ Fatimah Baeshen wrote on Twitter.

‘I’m rooting for the ladies - enjoy!’