Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid and Athletic de Bilbao will compete in the renewed Super Cup in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, from January 12 to 16, after the Royal Spanish Football Federation agreed to a contract with the Saudis until 2029 that will make earning the body 30 million euros ($ 34 million) a year.
The human rights organization has sent purple bracelets to the clubs and the Spanish federation and has asked the team captains to wear them during the tournament as a show of solidarity.
“We ask your organization to fulfill its commitments and responsibilities in the field of human rights”Amnesty urged the clubs in a letter seen by Reuters.
“Your club has the opportunity to take advantage of the tournament to make visible the human rights issues in Saudi Arabia. We invite your captain to wear the armband during matches or events around the tournament, such as press conferences, training sessions and other public exhibition spaces, including social media “.
The clubs have yet to respond to Amnesty’s letter, according to the human rights body. Reuters has contacted the clubs for comment.
“The Spanish Football Federation presented it in 2019 as ‘the Equality Super Cup’ but, two years later, we denounced the continuation of serious human rights violations in this country, in particular towards women and LGBTI people”Amnesty said in a statement.
The Spanish Super Cup is one of many sporting events hosted by Saudi Arabia, including the Dakar Rally, a Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the 2019 Italian Super Cup.
Saudi Arabia does not have a codified legal system or laws regarding sexual orientation or gender identity. Judges have convicted people of “immorality”, having sex outside of marriage and homosexual sex.
At the Formula One Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia in December, Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, wore a helmet in the colors of “the flag of Progress” to draw attention to intolerance towards the LGBTQ + community in the country. , where gay sex is a crime.
Real Madrid and Barcelona will meet in the first semi-final on Wednesday, while Athletic Bilbao and Atlético will play for the other place in Sunday’s final on Thursday.
Source From: Ambito
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