Last November 22, while I was checking the international news on the web, I noticed an interesting news item on one of the recreational activities I am most interested in, soccer.
This time it was not about information related to the millions of euros in advertising in this industry as is the case, for example, of the UEFA Champions League (UCL). Nor did it have to do with the results of the weekend's games in major leagues such as England, Spain and France (to name just a few) or the performance in the last match played by Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Mohamed Salah or other "magicians" who entertain millions of spectators around the world.
The news was perhaps less spectacular in the sporting arena but certainly much more significant for its social and cultural impact. Specifically, it referred to the start of the First Women's Professional Soccer League in Saudi Arabia, an unprecedented event until then in the Arab nation.
The start of a Women's Professional Football League in a given country would not really be exceptional if we appreciate things from the perspective of our culture and values, or as some call it "the Western perspective". In fact, "Fifa estimates that 13.36 million girls and women play soccer in an organized way in their federations, 76% of which have a specific strategy for women's soccer to which a specific expenditure of $347.6 million was dedicated in 2018". (1)
Women's soccer has grown steadily over the past twenty years, and since 1996 it has been a permanent fixture at the Olympic Games. Returning to the subject that interests us on this occasion, the initiation of a female sports activity at the professional level in Saudi Arabia implies in theory a process of change or transformation in that society. As is well known, patriarchal traditions are prone to the subjugation and exclusion of Islamic women from a number of fields such as religion, politics, culture and many other areas of daily life, so that for those of us who are not part of that culture it is almost impossible for us to exercise our individual rights.
The authorities of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation have disclosed that the start of this league has the endorsement of the monarchy that governs the country and that it is a great step towards opening up to the outside world; however, it is contradictory that the games are being played without the presence of the public and that the local media have not been invited to cover the games. It can be said that so far the first day of the women's soccer league has been in an atmosphere very similar to a clandestine activity.
Only time will tell if the nascent soccer league will be a mere anecdotal event; or if, on the contrary, it will be part of a set of situations that will propel the women of that Islamic nation to empowerment and equality of their civil rights.
Source:
(1) https://elpais.com/diario/2009/08/24/opinion/1251064805_850215.html