The Prince of Wales was questioned about the Epstein scandal after joining a kickabout with young female footballers on day two of his visit to Saudi Arabia. As the heir to the throne departed an engagement, a broadcast journalist shouted across a football pitch: “Sir, to what extent do you think the royal family has done enough around the Andrew and Epstein scandal?”
It was unclear whether or not the prince heard the question, but his focus remained on his conversation with a Saudi women’s football pioneer. The question came a day after both Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace shared statements highlighting the King and William and Kate’s concern over the growing scandal.
Aides to the Prince in Riyadh stressed that he had a job to do and was getting on with it. William had been meeting young girls aged 10-15 from youth squads in Riyadh as they took part in training drills on the pitch at MISK Sports City.
The future King was challenged to take part in a crossbar challenge, taking three shots at goal with the aim of hitting the crossbar. But he instead put all three balls in the net.
“This is my first time in Saudi Arabia,” he told them. “Have any of you ever been to the UK? You know the weather’s different – cold and rainy but you have the sunshine here all the time. Good luck with the football, keep practising and we’ll see you in the World Cup.”
After posing for a group photograph, which ended with the shout, “1, 2, 3, Saudia!”, the girls gathered around the prince to ask some questions. “Did Princess Kate come with you?” asked one, giving a disappointed “Oh!” when William said she didn’t.
Told he should bring his family to Saudi Arabia, he replied: “They would love it here. Will you show them how to play football? My children love football, but you guys are another level. “I can see you guys will be at the World Cup very soon and then you’re going to make me feel very old.”
The girls presented him with a Saudi national shirt to take home, plus smaller versions for each of his children, George, Charlotte and Louis, with their names emblazoned on the back. As he departed, he told officials. “My children love sport so the more they can get involved and get more active, the better.”
© Getty ImagesHe was accompanied by Saudi minister of sport Prince Abdulaziz and Lamia Bahaian, Vice President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and a member of the FIFA Women’s Club Competitions Committee, who gave him an overview of women’s football in the country.
Women have been allowed to attend football games since 2017, the same year that physical education was included in the curriculum at girls’ schools. Lamia began playing football aged five. “The majority of my life I played with boys, I didn’t know girls were playing football, until Vision 2030 came and they gave all of this opportunity for these young girls’ generation.
“Football is evolving massively which I personally [am] very proud of. We have all the opportunities to shine in the near future, just like the Lionesses, so hopefully one day we can compete with them and just teach that level.
“They’ve been a benchmark for us since we started this five years ago.”
“Was it not lonely for you, being one of the few women players?” William asked her. “Absolutely, but once I got to my teenage years, I got to know a small group of women who played football without me even knowing. So almost we said, ‘I’m playing football, you’re playing football, let’s do this together. And we created a community.
“Sometimes I get really jealous,” admitted Lamia. “What if these opportunities had been here 20 years ago, I would have been in the World Cup or something. But this is an opportunity.”
Football is hugely popular across Saudi Arabia, with Saudi Professional League sides Al-Nassr and Al Hilal attracting major international stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar in recent years. But until 2020, there was not even an amateur league for women.
A year later, an international women’s team was established, with the aim of reaching a World Cup within a decade. The Saudi government has mandated equal pay and access to facilities for men and women in the national sides, as well as female representation on sports federation boards and in international delegations. There are currently 37 national women’s teams and 97 certified female coaches across Saudi Arabia.
Prince Abdulaziz told the Prince how the men’s professional league had “skyrocketed over the past four years.” “The competition is getting there and the level of attendees. In the next 10 years or in 30 years time when they (the girls’) have families, many more people will be involved.”
“We are very optimistic for the generation we have right now,” added Lamia. The Saudi government is investing heavily in outdoor spaces and facilities to encourage people to take part in more activity to combat issues such as obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. But the daytime heat and rise of technology has led to an indoor lifestyle for many.
Speaking afterwards, Aalia Al Rasheed, Head of Women’s Football Department at SAFF, described the royal visit as “a great honour.” Her department was established in 2020 and a year later opened the first Girls Regional Training Centre, with the tagline Future Stars and the motto, “Towards your goal, score.”
There are now six of the centres across the country. “With the support of his Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the vision of 2030, it helped a lot in developing women and empowering women in all sectors, not only in sports, but all sectors within the kingdom,” she added.
“We didn’t get the chance to have opportunities like this, having a place to play football at, but today, all our girls have the access to sports, and especially football, so it’s a great honour, and it excites us every day to work and serves our young generation to deliver and give their best.”
Women’s participation in sports has soared by 150% since 2016, with more than 330,000 registered female athletes and more than 400 women’s sports clubs operating nationwide. New gyms, stadiums and community facilities have also been designed specifically for women.
William was welcomed to Misk Sports Park by Saudi minister of commerce Dr Majid bin Qassabi and Prince Abdulaziz and toured a community sports area, including a play park and BMX bike track, meeting local Saudi families who regularly use the centre. The Park is located within Misk City, a non-profit city founded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and features padel and beach volleyball courts and a skate park, along with green spaces planted with greenery grown in its own nursery.
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