Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP)

Filled stadiums, conquered local supporters ... The Spanish Super Cup, organized for the first time in Saudi Arabia, attracted many fans, happy to see Lionel Messi and others. But controversy has not lacked in a country criticized by human rights defenders.

Reshaped this year in the form of a "final four" and moved to January, the Supercup has aroused undeniable enthusiasm on the shores of the Red Sea, where football fans have been able to see Jeddah playing, for many for the first time in real life, stars like Messi, Antoine Griezmann (FC Barcelona), James Rodriguez or Luka Modric (Real Madrid).

Dressed in the colors of their favorite teams, mainly Real and Barça, experienced in the "ola" (wave of supporters in the stands) and rapturing in front of the superstar Messi, spectators filled the 62,000 seats of the King Abdullah stadium for the semi-final between Atlético and Barça, Thursday (3-2).

While the day before, for the first semi-final between Real Madrid and Valencia (3-1), only half of the seats at the King Abdullah stadium had found takers.

"Seeing Barça here is a dream come true," said Reem, a young local supporter in her twenties, with her blaugrana jersey hidden under the traditional abaya, a sort of long tunic covering the whole body. except the face, feet and hands.

- Ticket office closed -

Sunday, for the outcome of this competition transformed by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to make it more attractive, the organizers were still waiting for a sold-out match.

"We are part of an industry, that of football, which seeks sources of income. That is why we are here," agreed Barça coach Ernesto Valverde, at a press conference.

According to the Spanish press, Saudi Arabia has agreed to pay 120 million euros to be able to host the Spanish Super Cup until 2022, then divided between the RFEF and the participating clubs.

These profits "will help the clubs of third and fourth divisions and the female football" in Spain, had detailed the president of the RFEF, Luis Rubiales, at the time of the announcement of the delocalization of the trophy.

Criticized for this choice, Rubiales defended himself by invoking the redistribution of income, and the fact that this move will contribute to change Saudi society, especially with regard to women's rights.

In an ultra-conservative kingdom where women have only been able to enter a stadium to watch a football match for two years, women and men were able to sit side by side during this Super Cup, as required by the RFEF.

- Spanish flat -

It remains to be seen whether this sporting spotlight will have effects after the end of the tournament, when the country has just launched a major campaign of economic and social reforms driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for example by allowing women to drive or to apply for a passport without the approval of a male guardian.

These reforms have been welcomed by NGOs, but they denounce the repression of the dissenting voices that accompanied them, in particular feminist activists still in detention.

Saudi Arabia has been relying on sport for a few years to improve its image. Since last year, it has been organizing an Electric Formula race and the Dakar rally has been taking place there since January 5.

"It's very good that the Supercup is played here. It's good for the country. We are seen a little more (by the whole world)", savor Mohamed Hossem, 28 years old and "aficionado" of Atlético Madrid , happy to see again playing on their land a team he had seen playing in the old Vicente-Calderon stadium in Madrid, now demolished.

A big party for the Saudis, a big flat for the Spaniards: the distance from the Supercup, more than 6,400 kilometers and 10 hours flight from Madrid, did not convince the Spanish supporters.

Only a hundred of them (the four clubs mixed), spent the few 3,000 euros necessary to afford a trip to Jeddah, host of their favorite teams for a week, just after the holiday season.

© 2020 AFP