Barcelona face backlash over warning LGBTQIA+ fans about Saudi travel

Barcelona have confronted a backlash from fans and human rights teams after warning supporters travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Supercopa to be “prudent and discrete” and to “strictly respect the country’s customs and ways.”

In steerage posted on the membership’s web site for “foreigners in Saudi Arabia” forward of Thursday’s semifinal towards Osasuna, Barça advised LGBTQIA+ fans they face extreme penalties ought to they even submit about their experiences on social media.

Human Rights Watch say the assertion is inadequate to guard supporters and highlights the dearth of a “human rights framework” in Saudi, the place the 2034 World Cup is about to be held.

Supporters’ teams, in the meantime, have accused Barça of being “hypocritical” and going towards what they preach to be the membership’s values.

“People are advised to be respectful and prudent when it comes to public demonstrations of affection,” Barça warned beneath instruction from the Spanish Embassy in Riyadh.

“Indecent behaviour, including any action of a sexual nature, can lead to severe legal consequences for foreigners. Same-sex relations can also be subjected to severe penalties, as well as open displays of support for LGBTI causes, even on social media.”

Barça additionally mentioned fans ought to keep away from taking alcohol or pork into the Gulf State; avoid massive gatherings of individuals; be particularly cautious when travelling outdoors of main cities; and that Western residents are potential targets of terrorist teams working in Saudi and neighbouring nations.

“I see a gap in information for women fans,” Minky Worden, the director of worldwide initiatives at Human Rights Watch, told The Guardian.

“Perhaps it’s assuming they don’t exist or that they have the same needs as male fans, which is just incorrect. The Saudi guardianship system presents risks to women which are not at all considered. Equally, there is no mention of the risks in terms of information security.

“This briefing serves as a reminder that there’s at present no human rights framework for fans, gamers, journalists or anybody else travelling to Saudi Arabia for a sporting occasion. This is the principle drawback and what’s required is due diligence to ascertain the dangers individuals would possibly face.”

With human rights organisations banned from from working in the country, Worden added: “You can’t do primary human rights assessments as a result of there is not any one to fulfill with, they’re all in jail.

“At the same time, you don’t carry out your responsibilities just by saying: ‘If you’re going to be a fan don’t be gay.’ And, by the way, the same goes for heterosexual fans: you can’t kiss if you win.'”

Elsewhere, Penya Almogàvers, an formally recognised Barça supporters’ group, highlighted the mixed messaging coming from the Catalan membership.

“Enough with the hypocrisy, Barça!” the group posted on social media alongside a picture of membership representatives selling human rights initiatives at an occasion earlier this week within the Catalan metropolis.

“While supporting human rights, recommendations are given to fans for the Supercopa in Saudi Arabia, a country where human rights are not respected.”

Turning their consideration to the membership’s president, they added. “Where are the club’s values, Joan Laporta? Boycott the Supercopa.”

This is the fourth time the Supercopa has been held in Saudi Arabia, with Barça current on every event. They meet Osasuna in Riyadh on Thursday, with the winners taking over Real Madrid, who beat Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, within the closing on Sunday.