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In pictures: Saudi Arabia football stadia welcomes female supporters
Saudi Arabia, which has some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women, has long barred them from sports arenas through strict rules that keep the sexes apart in public.
Female supporters of Saudi’s Al-Hilal attend their team’s football match against Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on January 13, 2018. Saudi Arabia allowed women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match on January 12, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
Female supporters of Saudi’s Al-Hilal attend their team’s football match against Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on January 13, 2018. Saudi Arabia allowed women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match on January 12, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
Female supporters of Saudi’s Al-Hilal attend their team’s football match against Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on January 13, 2018. Saudi Arabia allowed women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match on January 12, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
Female supporters of Saudi’s Al-Hilal attend their team’s football match against Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on January 13, 2018. Saudi Arabia allowed women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match on January 12, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
Saudi’s Al-Hilal player vies for the ball against Al-Ittihad’s Omar al-Mezeaal in the Saudi Pro League football match at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on January 13, 2018. Saudi Arabia allowed women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match on January 12, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
Female Saudi supporters of Al-Ahli queue at an entrance for families and women at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on January 12, 2018, ahead of their teams football match against Al-Batin in the Saudi Pro League. Saudi Arabia will allow women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
Female Saudi supporters of Al-Ahli arrive at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on January 12, 2018, ahead of their teams football match against Al-Batin in the Saudi Pro League. Saudi Arabia will allow women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
Female Saudi supporters of Al-Ahli arrive at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on January 12, 2018, ahead of their teams football match against Al-Batin in the Saudi Pro League. Saudi Arabia will allow women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
Female Saudi supporters of Al-Ahli attend their teams football match against Al-Batin in the Saudi Pro League at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on January 12, 2018. Saudi Arabia will allow women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
Female Saudi supporters of Al-Ahli attend their teams football match against Al-Batin in the Saudi Pro League at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on January 12, 2018. Saudi Arabia will allow women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
Al-Ahli’s Giannis Fetfatzidis (L) vies for the ball with Al-Batin’s Maan Khodari during their football match in the Saudi Pro League at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on January 12, 2018. Saudi Arabia will allow women to enter a football stadium for the first time to watch a match, as the ultra-conservative kingdom eases strict decades-old rules separating the sexes.
