Saudi Arabia to allow women into stadiums

JEDDAH

Saudi women will be able to watch the matches in stadiums in 2014. AP photo

Women are to be allowed to attend football matches for the first time in Saudi Arabia, according to a government-run newspaper.

Officials in the kingdom said women will be able to watch matches at the Jeddah stadium after specially constructed private cabins and balconies are completed in 2014, daily Al-Sharq reported. “Sources close the stadium said more than 15 percent of the facility will be allocated for families when the facility is fully completed in 2014,” the report said, quoting unnamed sources.

“Besides families, female journalists and photographers will also be admitted into the stadium and will be allocated exclusive places away from male journalists so they can cover local and international events,” the report added. King Abdullah in September 2011 announced a reform in which he gave women the right to vote, to stand for election in future local elections in 2015 and to join the advisory Shura council.