Rafael Nadal says he has a 10-year plan to tackle anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Saudi Arabia. The tennis star, who has opened an academy in the Gulf nation, insists he will be ‘disappointed’ if there continues to be a debate over LGBTQ+ rights in Saudi Arabia ‘in a few years’.
Sexual activity between same-sex couples remains criminalised in the country, as is the expression of gender non-conformity. The law allows capital punishment for acts of homosexuality. Enforcement is not always universal.
Nadal has faced some criticism from LGBTQ+ groups for setting up a tennis academy in Saudi Arabia. However, he says that he will not allow for any member of the community to face discrimination when they attend his academy.
The Spaniard wants to ensure that there is no longer a ‘debate’ on LGBTQ+ rights within 10 years. He plans to prevent it from happening, although says there will not be change in the short term.
“In my academy he won’t have problems, in the country I don’t know,” Nadal said. “The problem is that this happens but the reality is that I am going to try to prevent it from happening.
“Things cannot be changed from today to tomorrow, the objective is that this is not debated in six, eight or ten years and that I can contribute to ensuring that it is not talked about in a few years. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll be disappointed.”
Nadal will follow England international Jordan Henderson in insisting he can change the narrative over LGBTQ+ rights in Saudi Arabia. Henderson, a self-confessed ally, upset the community by moving to Al-Ettifaq last August.
The former Liverpool midfielder claimed that he made the decision to move to the country as he did not want to ‘bury his head in the sand’ and criticise the culture from afar.
“I can understand the frustration. I can understand the anger. I get it. All I can say around that is that I’m sorry that they feel like that. My intention was never, ever to hurt anyone,” Henderson told The Athletic last year.
