Saudi Arabia lifts ban on women at Sweden match

[Stockholm]

Saudi Arabia has backed down on barring women from attending an international football match with Sweden in Riyadh this week after its decision caused uproar, the Swedish Football Association said on Tuesday.

"Wednesday's international game between Saudi Arabia and Sweden will be open for all spectators who want to see the match," the football association said in a statement.

There were calls from across Sweden for the country's team to boycott the game after it became clear on Monday that the match had been moved to a smaller stadium than first expected, prompting Saudi authorities to block women from attending.

Women, who face strict restraints in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom, are required to cover from head to toe when in public and to stay separate from men.

http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=2879&date=20060117

Mixing sports and politics is difficult at best, but I am nevertheless glad for the outcome.