A Major Step for Saudi Women; the Introduction of a Women’s Soccer League

posted on: Sep 3, 2020

By: MacKenzie DiLeo/Arab America Contributing Writer

For the past two years, Saudi women have seen improvement in terms of rights and the regulation of freedoms. Saudi Arabia, which has long been one of the world’s strictest societies with regard to women’s rights, has experienced changes under Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s leadership. Since 2018, women gained the right to drive, the right to travel without permission, the right to register births/marriages/divorces, the right to issue family-related documents, and the right to serve as legal guardians to minors.

In January 2018, women could enter soccer stadiums again after decades. While some remain skeptical, Saudi women see the transformations as a step forward. The newest development in the women’s movement has been the creation of a women’s national soccer league in February 2020. While the league has taken a break amidst the pandemic, the players are ready to return.

Saudi Women’s Soccer League 

Up until 2020, women in Saudi Arabia could not participate in public sports. However, the kingdom was under pressure in previous years to allow sports organizations to let women participate in international events. Saudi Arabia finally sent its first female athletes to the 2012 Olympics. The kingdom was under scrutiny by the International Olympic Committee for not having gender equality in its sports. Saudi Arabia never had a women’s soccer team compete in the World Cup, and this was because of FIFA’s ban on hijabs in 2007. However, the ban lifted in 2012.

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud, the president of the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA), said the following in a statement back in February: “The commencement of the Saudi Women’s Football League is one more major leap forward for the future of our country, our health, our youth, and our ambitions to see every athlete be recognized and nurtured to their fullest capability.” According to the SFA, the women’s league will consist of preliminary rounds to determine future regional championships. The winners of the regional championships will go on to participate in a knockout tournament. They will then compete for the Women’s Football League Championship Cup.

The prize money for the winning team is 500,000 riyals, the equivalent of just under $135,000. Most games will take place in Riyadh, Jeddah and Damman, which are three of the kingdom’s main cities. The amount of locations could increase if there is an increase in the number of teams.

Saudi Women Soccer Players in the League

With the new women’s league well underway, Saudi women soccer players have called for full equality in the game. Nouf Yamani, who plays for a team in Jeddah, explained that her and her teammates are excited for the league. However, they still feel they are at a disadvantage in comparison to their male counterparts.

“We face so many challenges, from a lack of closed, fully-equipped football stadiums and sports buildings that preserve the privacy of women to a lack of medical teams and professional coach crews,” Yamani said to the Thomas Reuters Foundation. “We want to feel included under the umbrella of the Saudi football federation and recieve treatment like other football teams.”

Yamani was 12 years old when she began playing soccer, and her family was highly supportive. This is a rarity for most Saudi daughters as most families are conservative and restrictive of women’s rights.

Wedyan Babteen, who plays with Yamani, believes the decision to set up a league with a prize of 500,000 riyals was a overdue recognition of the importance of women’s sports.

“We used to practice football and have matches in a random way,” Babteen said. “But now, with a state sponsorship of the league, it is organized and will give us a chance to know other teams who share our passion for football.”

Yamani and Babteen believe all Saudi women with a passion for any sport should have every right to pursue it. With restrictions regarding COVID-19 now lightening, the players are excited to return to their beloved sport this summer.

Check out Arab America’s blog here!