The Spanish Super Cup tournament will be played in Saudi Arabia in January 2020, the national football association (RFEF) said on Monday.

The four-team event features Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia at the 62,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah.

Spanish newspaper ABC said the federation would earn between £29-£34m a year from the three-year deal.

But a government official and La Liga have criticised the move.

Spain's acting junior minister for sport, Maria Jose Rienda, said the government would not support holding the competition "in countries where women's rights are not respected".

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has highlighted the country's "abysmal" human rights record. Heavy restrictions on freedom of expression and women's rights have been raised, as has the use of the death penalty for offences not recognised as crimes under international law.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sought to stage sporting and entertainment events in a bid to attract visitors and move away from its oil-dependent economy.

A ban on women attending football matches in the deeply conservative Muslim kingdom was lifted in 2017 as part of a wider easing of social restrictions championed by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Under his rule, the kingdom has lifted a ban on women driving, eased rules on gender segregation and women's dress code.

Some barriers remain and several women activists have been put on trial, although RFEF president Luis Rubiales said he could guarantee no restrictions would be placed on women attending the matches.

An RFEF statement said the tournament would "ease fixture congestion" and allow clubs "to be able to better plan their pre-seasons".

"The internationalisation of the competition will increase its value and contribute to raising our visibility and improving our image ahead of our bid to host the 2030 World Cup," added RFEF.

However, in September, former Spain women's international Veronica Boquete heavily criticised the decision, saying it represented "the victory of money and business above sport, above everything else".

The tournament features the previous season's top two teams in La Liga, as well as the winners and runners-up of the Copa del Rey, or the teams finishing third and fourth in La Liga.

Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid and Valencia will take on Real Madrid in the revamped tournament between 8-12 January, with the two winners meeting in a final.

La Liga's president Javier Tebas opposed the RFEF's choice of host, saying channel beoutQ carried pirated broadcasts in Saudi Arabia of global sports events, including Spanish football.

Italy's Supercoppa Italiana was held in Saudi Arabia in January with Juventus beating AC Milan 1-0, and Juventus will face Lazio in Riyadh on 22 December.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50380282

Anything to draw tourists. Wise country.

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Saudi Arabia is one of the advanced muslim countries in the world. Hope the northern leaders are learning .. Almajiri is a thing of centuries

logon599:
Nice move. I'm not a Muslim but would like to visit Saudi Arabia someday

To do what?

Saudi is breaking loose from these religious shackles.

Saudi is moving forward, meanwhile their slave in Nigeria say education is haram for girl child.

They dont know Saudi women are not only educated by now drive demselves.

Ok

Women rights groups don see work.

we all know who will win it.

Força barca

Though, it is good for the boosting of tourism in KSA but I don't like the crown prince of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia... A controversial prince of double images of dictator and reformist.

dermmy:


To do what?

Seriously niggarrr?


Have you heard of Arab money?
Damnnnnn
You are not a real niggarrr

I remember in 2018 when i received Seven hundred Omani rial
Only for me to get to wema bank and i was shocked to see it was equivalent to seven hundred thousand naira

Barca vs Atlectico is one go hot i swear

Okay, when is it coming to Nigeria?




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Arab money.. They want to do like the UAE, but that trait is still there

I see

[s]

helinues:
Saudi Arabia is one of the advanced muslim countries in the world. Hope the northern leaders are learning .. Almajiri is a thing of centuries

[/s]
trash trash trash

Mccullum:
Though, it is good for the boosting of tourism in KSA but I don't like the crown prince of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia... A controversial prince of double images of dictator and reformist.

Well that is ur problem...

logon599:
Nice move. I'm not a Muslim but would like to visit Saudi Arabia someday

If they know you are a Christian, you will be executed.

logon599:
Nice move. I'm not a Muslim but would like to visit Saudi Arabia someday

Thats a good one,but know that you will be restricted to Riyad,Jedda etc but certainly not Makka or Madina.

maynation:
Saudi is breaking loose from these religious shackles.

Mohammed Bin Salman is one of the driving force for these reforms

In other words, money is still responsible for their decision despite their misgivings.

iPhoneRepairer:

If they know you are a Christian, you will be executed.

Lie lie unless he carry drugs like your brothers do

Kubernetes:


Thats a good one,but know that you will be restricted to Riyad,Jedda etc but certainly not Makka or Madina.

He's not there to worship so...

maynation:
Saudi is breaking loose from these religious shackles.

Religious shackles?
Just give one example that cannot be proved from your religion.

Kubernetes:


Thats a good one,but know that you will be restricted to Riyad,Jedda etc but certainly not Makka or Madina.

Simply because you go there not for worship.

thats not true

iPhoneRepairer:

If they know you are a Christian, you will be executed.

logon599:


To go and preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

As servant of God
Born without father just like Adam without father and mother or Eve without mother
First miracle of talking at a day old child
Send only to the people of Israel
Believer and worshiper of God
Every miracle, not his will but will of He Who sent him

they kept insulting saudi arabia yet they kept doing business with them... you are saying human right is not respected in the country yet you are playing an european cup in the country, same way USA is doing business with them yet the media kept making saudi look like the bad guy . when in real sense both the thief and person wey buy stolen goods na thief . . .

why in this world would you carry Super cup to Saudi if not for greed!!!