Bilbao captain Williams raises voice against Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia

MADRID, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Athletic Bilbao captain Inaki Williams has spoken out against holding the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, insisting it is wrong to take the competition away from the club's supporters.

Bilbao has qualified for the Super Cup for the fourth time since the tournament was first played in Saudi Arabia in January 2020, and won the title in 2021, when it had to be played in Spain due to the pandemic.

The Basque side will play La Liga champion FC Barcelona in this year's semifinal in Jeddah on January 7, but is unlikely to have significant traveling support, because of the flights and accommodation in the Saudi city.

Meanwhile, uncertainty over whether the club would then play a final against either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid four days later makes organizing a trip almost impossible for fans.

Williams was asked about this year's Super Cup after Bilbao held an open training session on Tuesday at San Mames Stadium, which was attended by over 30,000 fans - none of whom will be in Jeddah, where most of the local football fans support either Real Madrid or Barcelona.

"In my opinion, playing in Saudi Arabia is rubbish," commented Williams.

"Taking a national competition to another country doesn't make it easy for fans to travel and to follow the games. That means that when we play there, it seems like we are the away team," he added.

Williams also pointed out that he and his wife are expecting a baby in the coming days, adding a personal complication to the trip.

It's not the first time the striker has complained about playing in Saudi Arabia. After last season's loss to Barcelona, he said: "If it had been played closer, the stadium would have been filled with many of our fans. It's a shame that we have to play hundreds of kilometers away from our fans and our families. For me, it makes no sense to play here in Saudi Arabia."

Although playing the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia isn't popular with Spanish supporters, it earns the Spanish Football Federation around 40 million euros a year, with the contract lasting until 2029. ■