Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish Super Cup campaign came to a bruising end on and off the pitch, as captain Inaki Williams was subjected to sustained hostility from sections of the Saudi crowd during a crushing 5-0 semifinal defeat to Barcelona in Jeddah.
The Ghana international found himself at the center of attention long before kickoff, following his outspoken criticism of the decision to stage Spain’s domestic competition outside the country. His blunt assessment of the venue choice quickly circulated ahead of the match.
“For me, playing in Saudi Arabia is rubbish, to put it bluntly,” he said. “Having to move a national competition to another country doesn’t make it easier for the fans to travel. Based on our fan base, it feels like we’re playing away from home, and if it were in Spain, we all know how many fans would be there to support us.”
Those remarks appeared to strike a nerve with local supporters. From the moment Williams stepped onto the pitch at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, he was greeted by a chorus of boos. The jeering began during the warm-up and showed no sign of easing once the match got underway.
🎙️ Iñaki Williams:
“Pedimos disculpas, no hemos estado a la altura”
“Hay que hacer autocrítica, los resultados tienen que empezar a llegar”
“Tenemos retos bonitos por delante aún, vamos a intentar pasar de ronda en Copa, resetear y demostrar que somos el Athletic” pic.twitter.com/7oKhWP760i
— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) January 7, 2026
Every involvement by the Athletic skipper, a sprint down the flank, a touch on the ball, even simple movements off possession, was met with loud disapproval from the stands. The atmosphere remained tense throughout, offering Williams little relief as he tried to lead his side under intense scrutiny.
While the forward maintained his composure and continued to battle for his team, the hostile backdrop coincided with a one-sided contest.
Inaki Williams blasts Spanish Super Cup move to Saudi Arabia
Barcelona imposed themselves early and never let up, dismantling Athletic with ruthless efficiency and leaving them chasing shadows for much of the night.
By the final whistle, the scoreline reflected not only Barcelona’s dominance but also a deeply uncomfortable evening for Athletic Bilbao’s captain. The episode reignited debate over the relocation of domestic competitions, underlining how unfamiliar settings can expose players to volatile reactions far removed from the environments they know at home.
🔚 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟
El Athletic cae en semifinales de la Supercopa. #BarçaAthletic 🏆 #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/QHMZGdod7G
— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) January 7, 2026
For Williams and Athletic, it was a night to forget, marked by heavy defeat, unrelenting noise from the stands, and a stark reminder of the complexities that come with taking national football far beyond its traditional borders.
