'It makes no sense to play in Saudi Arabia' - Inaki Williams

Athletic Club star Iñaki Williams has criticised the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) decision to host the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, following Barcelona’s advancement to the final.

Young sensations Gavi and Lamine Yamal propelled Barcelona to the Spanish Super Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night. However, Ghanaian forward Inaki Williams expressed frustration over the venue choice for the competition, which he believes diminishes the essence of the tournament.

For me, it does NOT make sense to play here in SAUDI, but this is the reality of football now. It felt like playing an away game today, despite having some Athletic fans present

The forward further lamented that moving such a prestigious game away from Spain deprives local fans of the opportunity to fully enjoy the spectacle.

It’s unfortunate to play such an exciting match far from home, hundreds of kilometres away. I believe the stadium would have been full of our supporters if it had been held closer.

Despite his frustrations, Inaki found the back of the net during the match, but his goal was disallowed after a VAR review.

Spanish Super Cup: A controversial move

The Spanish Super Cup has been hosted in Saudi Arabia since 2020, with the exception of the 2020-21 COVID-affected season, following a lucrative agreement between the RFEF and the Middle Eastern nation. The competition, which was previously a two-team event, has been transformed into a mid-season tournament featuring four teams.

While the RFEF argues that the move has brought significant financial benefits to Spanish football, critics like Inaki Williams point out the cost to fans and the traditional spirit of the game.

This year’s edition promises a thrilling finale, as Real Madrid secured a spot in Sunday’s Clásico final by edging out Mallorca. Barcelona will now face their archrivals in what is expected to be another dramatic chapter of their iconic rivalry—albeit far from home.

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