Inaki Williams expressed frustration with the Spanish Football Federation’s decision to host the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia after his side, Athletic Club, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in the semi-final on Wednesday night.
Despite Athletic’s strong performance, which included Williams having a goal disallowed for offside in the final minutes, the Ghana international voiced disappointment over playing the high-profile match so far from home.
“It felt like playing an away game today, despite having some Athletic fans present,” Williams said after the match. “It’s unfortunate to play such an exciting match far from home hundreds of kilometres away, as I believe the stadium would have been full of our supporters if it had been held closer. For me, it doesn’t make sense to play here in Saudi Arabia, but this is the reality of football now.”
Barcelona opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Gavi finished expertly following a cross from Alejandro Balde. The Catalan side extended their lead in the 52nd minute with a goal from teenage talent Lamine Yamal, who was assisted by Gavi. Athletic Club, despite a spirited effort, found themselves unable to find the back of the net, and Williams’ late strike was ruled out after a VAR review showed an offside in the build-up.
Williams’ sentiments reflect growing concern over the Spanish Super Cup’s shift to Saudi Arabia. The competition has been held in the Middle East since 2020, with critics pointing out that the decision alienates supporters and removes the tournament from its traditional Spanish roots.
Athletic Club’s defeat means Barcelona advance to the final, where they will face the winner of the other semi-final between Real Madrid and Mallorca.
