Saudi Arabia outlaws wearing Barcelona shirt, prescribes 15yrs jail term for offenders

Wearing a Barcelona shirt in Saudi Arabia now carries a risk of €135,000 fine and up to 15 years in prison.

The change in law follows the cutting of diplomatic relations and borders with Qatar, who the Saudi Kingdom this week accused of supporting ISIS.

According to Sky Italy, Saudi authorities have said those caught wearing shirts with the Qatar Airways wording now face €135,000 euro fine and up to 15 years in prison.

A similar ban could now follow in United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen.

Barcelona are, however, switching shirt sponsors to Japanese online retailer Rakuten from the 2017/18 season for four years.
Paris Saint-Germain was also affected as the Ligue 1 club’s Qatari owners have a shirt sponsorship deal with Emirates.

But the French club, who have two more seasons with Emirates, told Le Parisien: “It will have no effect on the club, there is no worry.”