‘I deeply hurt people by moving to Saudi Arabia’

Ashleigh Plumptre’s first reaction was to decline when an offer for a job first appeared from Saudi Arabia.

In 2023 the defender’s contract was coming to an end at childhood club Leicester City and she was looking for a new project, something to inspire her and where she would feel valued as a person as well as a footballer.

The Nigerian international made the decision to leave the Women’s Super League (WSL) and join the Saudi Women’s Premier League (SWPL) after discussions and a Middle Eastern trip.

Two years later she has signed an contract extension at Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad and wants to challenge preconceived notions from the western world about Saudi Arabia and what life is like for a female athlete.

So, in spite of her initial reservations, she decided to give Al-Ittihad a shot when her father, Tim, who is also her agent, informed her of an approach.

“I spoke to some teams in the UK, US and Europe, then Dad said there was a team in Saudi Arabia who are interested in you”, she told BBC Sport.

“It shocked me. My initial reaction was ‘ no’, but I wanted to give them a chance”.

One of the first international stars to join the SWPL, which was established as a fully-professional competition in 2022, was Plumptre.

There are 24 teams in the league pyramid, divided into three leagues of eight, and clubs are allowed to sign up to six foreign players.

The Saudi Pro League, a men’s soccer competition, has gained a reputation for splashing the money to attract big names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema.

Plumptre’s representatives declined to comment on her salary and contract at Al-Ittihad, and the player herself said the project was the main draw, rather than money. The league is funded by the state’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in 2023, and it pays more in prize money than the WSL, despite international players earning annual salaries of $60, 000 to $ 120, 000 (£44, 000 to $89, 000) tax-free. In a 2022 survey, the BBC found the avergae WSL salary was £47, 000.

I called the coach and two members of the management team, and I told Dad, “I have a really good feeling about this,” Plumptre said.

“We barely even spoke about football, but about ourselves and what we were passionate about.

Some people were offended by Plumptre’s decision. Not only was she an international player in her prime moving to a league largely unknown to European audiences, but it also caused upset for some in a sport where LGBT people have typicaly been much more welcome than in the male equivalent.

Yet Saudi Arabia forbids same-sex relationships.

The nation’s presence in women’s football remains a controversial topic. More than 100 female footballers signed a letter last year urging the Saudi-Arab oil company Aramco to renounce their sponsorship deals with Fifa, accusing the country’s authorities of “brutal human rights violations.”

Plumptre said she and her team-mates at Leicester were close with the club’s LGBT supporters ‘ group, and that she received negative comments following her decision to join Al-Ittihad. When asked about this response, it is obvious that she still feels the effects.

” Especially when I moved out here, the reaction was not good at all, “she said”. That was challenging.

“When I made this move there were people around Leicester – I remember some comments I received – it was like I was not the person they thought I was.

They felt deeply hurt because I represented something that made them feel unappreciated, and I fully understand that. I don’t really know what to say.

Like many other expats in Saudi Arabia, Plumptre resides in a compound-style gated community.

These residential compounds offer a lifestyle more like Western suburban areas and have gyms, pools, restaurants and other amenities in a self-contained area. Some even have unofficial bars that serve alcohol, which Saudi Arabia forbids.

Plumptre says she feels happier and safer as a woman living in Jeddah than she did in the UK.

She said, “I know international players, members of my family, and friends who have come here and who genuinely feel safer and calmer than in the UK.”

“A friend of mine who was out here, we described it as being like a peace bubble.

I’ll provide an example. I had been to the supermarket and I had all these bags. I reside in a complex. I had to take all these bags into the elevator, so I left my car out with the door open, engine on and keys in the car so I could take up my shopping.

“With the keys in, I would never leave my car outside in the UK.” Here I have no problem.

Everyone is naturally a little hesitant to use the restroom at night, but I don’t have to constantly look over my shoulder. I know this is just the perspective of myself, not of everybody who lives here, but with the safety I feel I can’t agree with some of the views the Western world have of this place. “

This is only one woman’s perspective on life in Saudi Arabia, according to Plumptre.

Some of the most notably unequal practices in the country are no longer in place. Since 2018, women have been permitted to drive. A year later those over 21 could apply for a passport.

However, Saudi culture is reliant on the concept of guardianship, or “willaya.” Traditionally every woman has a ‘ wali’, a male guardian who makes decisions on her behalf.

Women over the age of 21 no longer need permission to access medical care or education, but according to reports from organizations like Amnesty International, this hasn’t been fully implemented, and women are still severely restricted in what they can do, wear, and say.

Asked about how she has been treated since her move, Plumptre says:” I don’t feel threatened at all here.

“Men are advised to treat women in a certain way, and failing to do so will have consequences.”

While the SWPL is not as star-studded as the men’s Pro League, there are several major names who feature alongside Plumptre.

Asisat Oshoala, a two-time champion of the women’s soccer, has signed for Al-Hilal this year, while Amel Majri and Kheira Hamraoui, both from France, are SWPL players.

And they get star treatment, including flights to games to avoid long travel times around such a big country.

However, the SWPL has a number of obvious problems. One is the disparity in skill between the internationals and homegrown players. Another issue is the low attendance at many games.

Plumptre admits there is plenty of catching up to do.

The standard is not what I’m used to in the WSL or at the international level, and she said, “I’m not one I’ll ever hide away from.”

” One of my club and international team-mates, Francisca Ordega, said in Saudi we must do more. You must think differently and push yourself past your limits because the pace is slower. There is more responsibility on you. “

According to Plumptre, the facilities are beneficial for players. Al-Ittihad is not just a football club, but also has teams in swimming, volleyball and basketball, and Plumptre says they have adapted to the arrival of women’s football since 2023, although the state-of-the-art facilities do go to the men.

The squad trains in the evening when it’s cooler, which Plumptre prefers because it’s both enjoyable and allows her to have rest after school at Leicester Academy.

” When I first came here, we were using the same gym the volleyball and basketball teams use, “she said.

The biggest problem is attendances. Every SWPL team plays in stadiums with less than 15, 000 seats and aren’t as big as Al-Ula, which is where all other teams compete.

” We don’t have many fans, “Plumptre says.

She attributes this to the absence of local initiatives to encourage children to play sports with their families and distribute free tickets in schools in Saudi Arabia. This has played a huge part in the WSL growing attendances and fanbases among children and families, and Plumptre says this is being worked on by Saudi clubs.

The Saudi Sports Company network and the Shahid streaming platform offer matches for viewing on TV in the Middle East. Saudi-backed DAZN has the broadcast rights in Europe.

There is a lot of work to be done in Saudi Arabian women’s football on a global stage. Hosting the men’s World Cup in 2034 and Aramco’s partnership with Fifa has led to speculation about a bid for the Women’s World Cup soon.

However, Plumptre believes that the goals must be more attainable.

” In the near future I would say ‘ no ‘]to Saudi hosting a Women’s World Cup], because everything takes time, “she said.

I don’t want things to happen too soon, and I really care about supporting these Saudi players’ development. I believe in the process, taking measurable and decisive steps – make it long-lasting.