Fan backlash as gay World Cup star joins Saudi club

What the report says

Spain forward Esther Gonzalez has drawn criticism after joining Saudi Women’s Premier League club Al Qadsiah, according to BBC Sport Football. The 33-year-old had previously reached a mutual contract termination with National Women’s Soccer League champions Gotham FC in July, saying at the time that she was leaving the United States to deal with personal matters in Spain.

BBC Sport reported that Gonzalez described the departure from Gotham on Instagram as being for strictly personal reasons and said the club would always have a special place in her heart. Her move to Saudi Arabia was then announced by Al Qadsiah on Sunday, prompting backlash from some Gotham supporters and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The reaction centred on concerns about the handling of her exit, the loss of a transfer fee for Gotham, and the broader context of Saudi Arabia, where same-sex relationships and sexual activity are illegal. BBC Sport also noted social media speculation about Gonzalez’s motivations and worries about her safety. The report said Spanish outlet El Mundo reported that she has removed photos of her wife and their child from social media since the move, although BBC Sport did not independently verify that detail.

Gonzalez, a 2023 World Cup winner and member of Spain’s Euro 2025 runners-up squad, built her reputation with Real Madrid and Gotham before this transfer. The episode is part of a wider pattern of scrutiny faced by footballers moving to Saudi clubs, where sports investment has often been accompanied by debate over human rights and LGBTQ+ rights.