January 17 – Spanish FA (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan has apologised for the treatment that the wives of Mallorca players suffered from Saudi Arabian fans during the recent Spanish Super Cup.
The spouses of two Mallorca players spoke out about being harassed by local fans in Saudi Arabia after the club’s match against Real Madrid. The wife of the midfielder Dani Rodríguez, Cristina Palavra, described moments of “genuine panic” and denounced a lack of protection.
Despite the serious nature of the incident, the RFEF remained largely silent at the time. However, during an appearance on a radio station on Wednesday evening, Louzan took the opportunity to issue a formal apology.
“From the moment this unfortunate event transpired, I have been in communication with Mallorca. I extend my sincerest apologies to all affected,” Louzan said. “We will strive to ensure such incidents do not recur.”
Louzan nevertheless stopped short of outlining any specific measures that would be implemented in response to the situation. The current agreement for hosting the tournament in Saudi Arabia extends until 2029, and there are already ongoing negotiations to further renew the contract.
Compounding the controversy, there are rumours that the women’s Super Cup might now also be held in Saudi Arabia – an alarming prospect given the country’s ongoing issues regarding women’s rights.
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