A she in the Football stadium-Saudi Arabia

To be clear, women are not allowed to football stadiums in Saudi Arabia, it is considered a man's game (that reminds me of that song by James Brown, it's a mans world), this must be because its a crime for women and men who are not related to interact. It really confuses me, l would imagine it's to avoid those other kind of temptations. Culturally here, intermarrying is quite common, cousins especially, uncles and nieces, I mean temptation is right in the home! A lot of things haven't been logical so I bet this won't be different, between, intermarriage is most especially in rich families, so the wealth can remain in the same family. Yep, dont ask me how i know that! Walls got ears, plus we know genetic disorders are the leading cause for healthcare. They are beginning to get educated on this issue though! But i wonder if education will wipe out these strong believes! Oh yea, football....

Anyhow, sometimes they make exceptions for western women, and only when their home country teams come to play friendly or competitive matches againist the Saudi team. The difference is, usually at home, everyone lines up, pays upfront or smiles sexily at the ticket guy and goes in to the stadium without a care. Not in Saudi.

The Finnish junior team was here to play a friendly game, so the embassy requested from the mayor that we be allowed to go watch the game, a few letters were exchanged and finally permission was granted with a few rules to be considered: we should be covered, we cannot be noisy, all women are to arrive in one bus, no different modes of transport would be allowed in. We are very thankful though to Mr Mayor. 

We were all excited, booked a freaking bus which cost us like 600€ for 3 hours, how expensive is that!, carried out our small Finnish flags, big smiles and dashed energy. When we got to the stadium, someone was already waiting, we were whisked off the bus quickly and followed this one guy, feet trying to keep up the steps! Dont get me wrong but this reminded me of inmates who are attending court sessions, you know how they follow the policemen in que from the bus to the court grounds, maybe not abroad but in Africa the citizens get to see this! Maybe its done to remind you how its going to be if you break the law and dont know anyone who knows somebody. The only example in mind for Finns is the kindergertten kids, all in que following their teachers. It wasn't that cute though. 

We were put in the VIP closed up rooms. This is the first time in life i did not want to be VIP, i wanted to be in the stadium, singing and waving the flags, screaming my lungs out go! Go! Go! If i had my way i would have painted my face in the Finnish flag, thats a little exagerrated but thats what was in my cruked mind, instead me and other ladies were in this compactment where we could see the field, it was ok but.. Well atleast we got there. The windows were tinted, so the men on the other side could not see inside! We had been kept safe, i dont know from what, till the 1st goal and us stupid girls had forgotten the rules and were shouting our sapranao, stamping feet and playing drums on the Windows. The men then heard or could smell the estrogen, they turned their heads, eyes almost bulging out of their sockets! and the guard walked right in to warn that should not happen again, we calmed down lest we were sent out to spoil it for the others.

We watched the match till end, the boys were beaten 3-1, maybe because they didnt see our small flags or even see us clapping and stamping our feet to Motivate, they gave it their all and we were still proud of them. We  didn't get to see them because the moment the last whistle was blown, the guard was by our door ushering us to the bus which was waiting right at the last step out! It was flagged out as soon as the last in line was in! I don't know if she had even sat down! We were whisked off again quickly before the lions were let loose!

PS: we were served tea and coffee throughout, it was so full of sugar plus some wrapped croissants . It's not the sugar full tea but the thought that matters, so said the wise man.

If you needed to go drain all that tea out! The guard was in place to direct you to the rest rooms. It was one way and traffic police are well required to avoid reckless drivers who might drive the wrong way... As if you can drive on a full bladder.. Hahaha