There are borders impossible to cross, also in modern times, fundamentalist in the standardization of cultures. Although they say that there are those who manage to do it, visitors to Jeddah cannot drink alcohol, nor can those who come to cover the Spanish Super Cup, a Spanish heritage, sold to Saudi Arabia after a trick between But if hunger defeats you at two in the morning after an endless workday, you can ask for a delivery that delivers the most famous burger in the world at the door of your hotel room in about 15 minutes.
It is different, however, if you are urgently going to the bathroom and you are a woman, of course. I’m used to paying close attention to bathroom signs in public places. I am especially irritated by the long journeys that have to be taken to find the toilets in airports and shopping centres, always marked in any case with that tiny sign with the relevant references for men and women. In the football stadiums of Jeddah that was not a problem for me. An immense sign with a man’s face indicated the bathrooms on the edge of each mouth that gave access to the stands.
There was nothing, however, to indicate where the women’s room was. After consulting a professional colleague and friend, also a special envoy to Jeddah, she told me that it was difficult but possible to find a toilet in the stadium. For example, there was one in the press room. In any case, a long distance from the stands. Yes, it was impossible for him to find one in the Sports City where they trained. Basically because there wasn’t any. My partner had no choice but to resort to the disabled.
There are borders impossible to cross, also in modern times, fundamentalist in the standardization of cities. Although they say that there are those who manage to hide it, tourists who visit the beautiful and impersonal promenade of Jeddah, neighboring the picturesque and particular neighborhood of Al-Balad, are advised to wear long, loose clothing. Same warning for those who come to cover the Spanish Super Cup, a Spanish heritage, moved from the European winter to the heat of Saudi Arabia, a pact that does not seem to have an end even afterwards. “Today is a day to be happy and happy as the culmination of a week in which we have done many things for the good of our sport, always receiving the love of a place that loves Spanish football,” said Rafael Louzán, president of the Spanish Football Federation. It happens, however, that if the heat embraces you, you can resort to short sleeves. If you are a man, of course.
For women it is different. Walking through the old town, a journalist had to “button her shirt to the last button on the collar” after the “intimidating and penetrating glances” of the local inhabitants. “Lucky I was with two men. If not, I don’t know what was happening.” A situation just as violent as when a hundred fans take out their cell phones to take photos or record videos of women without prior authorization or any attempt at concealment. Curious attitude, on the country’s website it recommends to visitors: “Saudis highly value their privacy, particularly women. Before taking a photo, especially if it includes people, ask first.”
There are borders impossible to cross, also in modern times, fundamentalist in the standardization of stadiums. Although they say that there are those who enjoyed the pompous facilities of Jeddah, curiously the delegations of Barcelona and Madrid, who usually charge around five million euros for a friendly outside of Spain, were awarded nine and seven million respectively for their last participation in the Super Cup, their stay was substantially long. “The organization was very good, but due to the displacement and being there for a week, perhaps we should be better paid,” said Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona.
Money for the clubs, displeasure for the fans, tormented by local followers — “They scolded us and slapped us. The women suffered touching,” denounced a Mallorca fan, “and the families of the footballers were also unprotected. “The kids from this country have started taking photos of us up close and have been harassing us. We have felt a little out of place. “We had no one protecting us,”
Absorbed by the harmful and blinding routine, the sports journalist can jump from stadium to stadium, from hotel to hotel, with no luck other than a short stopover to tourists. This is not the case in Arabia, the cynical and obscene display of money, in short, vulgar like all material luxury, does not cleanse a Super Cup moved to Saudi Arabia in exchange for 40 million. Nor would the fantasy of a time machine work to break grievances. It is not backwardness, it is a stench that is not even able to disguise the bubble of the professional football industry.
