Money should give Neymar freedom in Saudi Arabia – 08/22/2023 – Sport

After being seduced by a contract for which he will receive 320 million euros (R$ 1.7 billion) in two seasons and presented in an apotheotic way by Al Hilal on Saturday (19), Neymar started what will be the biggest cultural change of your career.

The Brazilian left Paris, France, where he lived since 2017, to live in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, headquarters of his new club.

With more than 7 million inhabitants, the city is governed by Islamic laws, which prohibit common habits in western countries, such as alcohol consumption and public displays of affection. There is also a strict dress code for women, and homosexuality is considered a crime.

However, as the main star of the most victorious team in the country, Neymar, as well as his family and friends, should enjoy privileges, such as living in a private condominium, with rules similar to those in the West, with fewer restrictions.

Based on the choices of other football stars who have recently moved to Saudi Arabia, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, two areas are most likely to attract the player,

The first is the Al Muhammadiyah neighborhood, famous for sophisticated restaurants. The second is Al Nakheel, sought after by families looking for international schools. Both were built as mini-cities, with all the necessary infrastructure for residents, such as schools, hospitals, malls, gyms and restaurants.

The two neighborhoods have a similar landscape, taken over by countless buildings and constructions that mix modernity with historic places.

The territories were planned precisely to facilitate the coexistence of foreign families, who hardly need to leave the condominiums. In them, they are far from the eyes of, for example, the religious police of Mutaween, who have the authority to monitor, above all, women.

Among the restrictions for Saudi women are talking to men who are not part of their families, working or starting a business without a man’s permission, traveling abroad without a guardian and having custody of children in the event of divorce.

Recently, however, although relatively timid, there have been advances. Since 2018, they have been allowed to attend stadiums, in the same year they also gained the right to drive.

“Depending on the neighborhood and the coexistence he has, Neymar will have more or less restrictions. But I don’t see that as a problem”, he says to Sheet anthropologist Francirosy Campos Barbosa, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oxford in Islamic Theology.

For her, the western media tends to show that people like the player cannot live in Saudi Arabia. “But we are not talking about workers. We are talking about a player who will earn a millionaire salary and who will have access to things that an ordinary citizen would not have.”

The researcher also says that, inside these luxury condominiums, especially in his house, Neymar will have freedom, for example, to have parties and to practice his religion.

Neymar is a Christian and has several tattoos with religious references. After winning a gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, he posed with a banner reading “100% Jesus”.

Francirosy explains that the Arabian Peninsula is considered sacred to Muslims, which prevents non-Islamic construction. “It’s like wanting to build a mosque inside the Vatican”, compares the anthropologist.

According to professor Arlene Elizabeth Clemeshao, PhD in Arab history at the Department of Oriental Letters at USP (University of São Paulo), this does not mean that the non-Muslim people who are living in Saudi Arabia, the vast majority in luxurious condominiums, cannot practice their religion.

“There are more problems between different currents of Islam itself than with Christianity,” he says.

Outside of luxury properties, however, Saudi Arabia’s absolute monarchy does not allow religious freedom, and conversion to Christianity is prohibited by law, punishable by the death penalty.

Christians are forbidden to express themselves freely even inside homes, which are inspected by the faith police. Cult signs can cause expulsion from the country.

Recently, Cristiano Ronaldo starred in a scene that drew attention. When celebrating a goal for Al Nassr, the club he defends since last season, the star made the sign of the cross, a symbol of Christianity. The scene took place during a duel against Al Shorta, from Iraq, for the Arab Champions Cup.

Like Neymar, the Portuguese was hired for a price in gold as part of the Arab nation’s “sportswashing” project, which spends billions through football to improve its image and increase its geopolitical influence.

Therefore, he has been treated with certain privileges. The star, for example, is not officially married to Georgina Rodríguez, with whom he has two children. They take care of the other three children of the athlete together. Under Islamic law, the situation is irregular.

“In fundamentalist countries, such as Saudi Arabia, it is not allowed for a man and a woman to live together if they are not married. Nor is dating allowed,” explains Arlene Elizabeth Clemeshao.

According to Saudi government sources heard by the EFE agency, Cristiano Ronaldo will not be punished precisely because of his status as a soccer star and for living in private condominiums.

Neymar should have similar privileges – he also lives with his fiancée, Bruna Biancardi, who is expecting his child – but he will not have an unrestricted life. Known for promoting large parties, he may have problems with the consumption of alcoholic beverages in his home, since Islamic laws prohibit this type of consumption.

According to Brazilian professionals working in Saudi Arabia, this is not something that could change in the near future.

“The religious issue in relation to alcohol consumption and local customs are very well preserved”, says coach Péricles Chamusca, currently in charge of Al Taawoun, the fifth club he coaches in the country, where he has lived since 2018.

“In fact, inside the condominiums, the culture is from the outside, but the only issue that remains is the restriction on drinking. It is the only rule that prevails anywhere in the country”, he points out.

For coach Geninho, who spent two spells in Saudi Arabia throughout his career, in 1993 and 2005, even though progress can be seen, the Saudis will have to give up many aspects of their culture if they want to host a World Cup World, according to the plans of the monarchy.

“I think that in relation to alcohol they will not give up. They are stricter than Qatar, where we saw that this issue created a problem. With the departure of great players to the Arab Championship, maybe that will change the mind a little But everything there is governed by religiosity,” says Geninho.