Berlin (dpa) – The German coach Monika Staab, who works in Saudi Arabia, expects that in the future prominent footballers will also move to the desert state – even from Germany.
Saudi Arabian clubs have been causing a stir for a long time with transfers of well-known professionals such as Cristiano Ronaldo or, most recently, Sadio Mané, which often cost millions. The clubs not only wanted to be champions for men, but also for women, said Staab in the Deutschlandfunk “Players” podcast. The 64-year-old has been building a women’s selection team in Saudi Arabia since 2021.
“I don’t want to reveal too much, but there are rumors that about four or five world-class players who are also taking part in the World Cup are going to Saudi Arabia,” said Staab. She explained that there are several men’s clubs that have also taken up women’s football and are investing in European coaches to raise the quality. “I think we’ll see one or the other player, including German ones, who might be of retirement age, going to Saudi Arabia to play football there,” said Staab.
Saudi Arabia has given women more rights in recent years. Since 2018, women have been allowed to drive cars and as spectators to football games in the stadium. An eight-team women’s Premier League started last October. The country is repeatedly criticized for human rights violations. Saudi Arabia has a particularly conservative reading of Islam that curtails women’s rights.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230806-99-726095/3
2023-08-06 03:58:48
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