Wearing a Barcelona shirt in Saudi Arabia now risks a €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.
Saudi Arabia have moved to punish Barcelona’s shirt sponsors of four years, Qatar Airways, whose company logo adorns the Spanish club’s kit and other promotional material.
According to Sky Italy, those caught wearing shirts with the Qatar Airways wording now face a €135,000 euro fine and up to 15 years in prison.
A ban could now follow in countries that sided with Saudi Arabia in the international row including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen and Bahrain.
Barcelona are, however, switching shirt sponsors to Japanese online retailer Rakuten from the 2017/18 season for four years.
Paris Saint-Germain were also affected this week as the Ligue 1 club’s Qatari owners have a shirt sponsorship deal with Emirates, but the UAE’s national carrier have stopped flights between the two countries.
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.”
SOURCE:SQUAWKA
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