Sports
09:43, 04-Jan-2019
Italy's Serie A under fire for men-only seats in Saudi final
Updated
08:57, 07-Jan-2019
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Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on Thursday condemned as "disgusting" restrictions imposed on women hoping to see the final of the Italian Supercoppa, which is being staged this month in Saudi Arabia.
The encounter between Juventus and AC Milan will be played in Jeddah on January 16 as part of a three match deal that Italy's Serie A signed last year with Saudi Arabia worth 22 million euros (about 25 million US dollars).
According to information released by Serie A, some category of seats are only available for men and explaining that women could only gain access by buying tickets in "family" areas.
H.E. Turki Al Sheik (C) , Chairman of the General Sport Authority of Saudi Arabia poses with Giorgio Ricci (L) of Juventus and Fabio Guadagnini (R) of AC Milan during the unveiling of the partnership between Serie A and Saudi Arabia in Zurich, Switzerland, June 6, 2018. /VCG Photo
H.E. Turki Al Sheik (C) , Chairman of the General Sport Authority of Saudi Arabia poses with Giorgio Ricci (L) of Juventus and Fabio Guadagnini (R) of AC Milan during the unveiling of the partnership between Serie A and Saudi Arabia in Zurich, Switzerland, June 6, 2018. /VCG Photo
"To have the Italian Supercoppa being played in an Islamic country where women cannot go to the stadium unless they are accompanied by a man is sad. It's disgusting. I won't watch the game," said Salvini, a passionate AC Milan fan.
However, the head of the Serie A, Gaetano Micciche, defended the decision to play in Saudi Arabia and said women would not have to be accompanied by a man to get into the stadium, adding that this would be a "historic first."
"Until last year, women (in Saudi Arabia) could not attend any sporting event," he said in a statement, "We are working to ensure that in the next games that we play in the country, women can access all the stadium seats."
The Supercoppa final, which pitches the Serie A champions against the winners of the Coppa Italia, has been played abroad several times, with the United States, China and Qatar the previous foreign venues.
A ban on women attending some soccer matches in Saudi Arabia was lifted in January 2018 as part of a wider relaxation of social restrictions, with special family sections set up in three stadiums.
Source(s): Reuters