Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Omicron, human rights, money
Kroos and Alaba on the wrong track in Saudi Arabia
Despite the corona pandemic, the Spanish Supercopa will be held in Saudi Arabia. Four teams are fighting for the title in Riyadh, which not only meets with incomprehension among the fans. While the authoritarian state tries to distract people from human rights violations with sportswashing, hardly anyone can watch.
In a black suit and white shirt, Toni Kroos and David Alaba posed with their teammates for a few group photos, then they went on the plane to Riyadh in a good mood. There the stars of Real Madrid will face the Clásico in the Supercopa semifinals against FC Barcelona on Wednesday (8 p.m.). “A Clásico remains a Clásico,” emphasized coach Carlo Ancelotti – even if it is held far away from home in Saudi Arabia.
“It doesn’t make sense. Football has changed, we don’t think about the fans anymore,” said Raul Garcia, defending champion Athletic Bilbao striker. The Basques face champions Atlético Madrid in the second semi-final on Thursday. “We forget the essentials, the atmosphere that defines the games,” said Garcia. In the middle of the violent Spanish Omikron wave, the four teams set off for Saudi Arabia, around 5000 kilometers away, where the Spanish Supercup winner will be sought for the second time after 2020.
There are primarily financial reasons behind the venue, Riyadh. The desert state is paying around 40 million euros to the Spanish soccer association RFEF for the tournament, and a total of 120 million euros should flow for three events from 2020 to 2022 – but last year the Supercopa was held in Spain due to the corona pandemic.
Alaba is “particularly motivated”
At the same time, Saudi Arabia is trying to do sportswashing with the Supercopa and to create a positive image for itself in the international spotlight. The authoritarian state massively violates human rights. When it was first held two years ago, the Final Four was met with heavy criticism from home, and the Spanish TV stations boycotted the games. At that time, association boss Luis Rubiales defended the games as the “Cup of Justice”, as women were given free entry to the games. This year, the pay-TV broadcaster Movistar will at least broadcast the games, in Germany there is no way to watch the games live on TV.
Ex-Bayern star Alaba has his first trophy with the royal in sight. “I am particularly motivated and definitely want to return to Madrid with my first title for Real. We are traveling confidently to Saudi Arabia,” said the central defender of the La Liga leaders.
For this, Real must first clear the cup winners Barcelona with the German national goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in front of 30,000 spectators on Wednesday. The corona-plagued Catalans explored the Saudi capital on a walk on Tuesday and had newcomer Ferran Torres and youngster Pedri flown in after negative corona tests. At the latest after the final in the König-Fahd-Stadion on Sunday, it will be clear for whom the strenuous journey was worth it.