While the Spanish Super Cup carries value as both a trophy and a commercial product, its importance to supporters is widely seen as secondary to La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and European competitions. This perception is reinforced by the tournament’s location in Saudi Arabia, which many fans feel creates a disconnect.
Supporters I spoke to from all four clubs involved expressed frustration at the high cost and difficult logistics of attending matches in the Middle East compared to in Spain. One Real Madrid fan described the event as “a scam,” arguing that travelling to a Champions League match is cheaper and more important.
On the eve of Athletic’s Club’s semi-final match against Barcelona, Athletic Club’s Inaki Williams did reflect on his comments from earlier in the week saying: “The words I used weren’t the right ones, but I don’t regret the meaning.” However, he did say he is looking forward to having the opportunity to make Athletic Club known to the rest of the world.
