(foto: Posnetek zaslona)
Tensions have escalated following the Super Cup semi-final in Jeddah, with Spanish fans and family members of Mallorca players accusing local spectators of harassment.
The Spanish Super Cup semi-final between Real Madrid and Mallorca, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ended with Real Madrid’s **3-0** victory, setting up a final clash against Barcelona. However, the match’s aftermath has sparked controversy, as several Spanish fans and relatives of Mallorca players reported being harassed by local spectators.
Cristina Palavra, wife of Mallorca midfielder Dani Rodriguez, shared her troubling experience with the Spanish media: "Leaving the stadium was a bit complicated. We were going with the children and there was no security. Men from this country started taking close-up pictures of us and harassing us." She added that Natali, the wife of goalkeeper Dominik Greif, was also harassed. "We went in an organized way, all together, there was nothing else we could do. We got to the bus as we knew how, that's how it is."
A Mallorca fan echoed these concerns, stating: "There were very few Mallorca fans, and they didn’t look after us or protect us. They mixed us up with the home fans... And throughout the game, many of them bothered us, made fun of us, harassed and provoked children and elderly people." He further alleged that things worsened after the game: "They took pictures of us without our consent, hit us on the back of the head... But the worst thing was what the women suffered. They touched them and took pictures without their consent."
The Spanish Football Federation faced heavy criticism when it sold the rights to organize the Super Cup to Saudi Arabia in 2020 for a reported €400 million over ten years. Many Spanish footballers and fans have since expressed dissatisfaction with the tournament’s relocation to Saudi Arabia, citing concerns over fan safety and cultural differences.
Following the latest allegations, criticism is expected to intensify. Calls for increased security measures and better organization during the final, which will be held at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium, are likely to grow louder.
While the Spanish Football Federation has yet to comment on the reported incidents, the accusations have added tension ahead of the final between Real Madrid and Barcelona next Sunday.