Although sports, especially football, are immensely popular in the Kingdom and loved by almost everyone, Saudi football clubs are largely viewed from a negative perspective and many parents refuse to let their sons join such clubs. The common view is that those who join football clubs will not have a prosperous future, let alone an academic one. Experts argue the image problem with Saudi football clubs is due to a lack of focus on developing the social and cultural aspects of their members by offering effective and useful activities for members to take part in, Al-Riyadh daily reported. Abdullah Saad, a high school student, has tried many times to convince his family to let him join a football club but to no avail as his family categorically refuses the idea. "It is true that some people who joined different football clubs ended up being drug addicts but those were isolated cases. My father insists that anyone who wants to join a sports club is a loser who has failed to make it in real life and decided to compensate for his failure by becoming a football player," he said. Short-lived stardom Asma Yousif, a housewife, refuses to let any of her children even think about joining any club be it football, basketball or handball. "These clubs are useless and a waste of time. Besides, they do not offer a promising future except transitory stardom. If a player falls and breaks his leg, his future is over," Yousif explained, urging all families not to allow their children to join these clubs. She hopes that clubs do not focus on creating stars but also on creating youth who develop sports and sets good examples for others. A different view Khalid Al-Dabal, the chairman of Al-Ittifaq Football Club, disagrees with the notion that most people look down on clubs. He believes that clubs today play a more effective role in taking care of youth and educating them about the importance of the role the youth can play in developing society. "The negative view held by many families does not exist today as many fathers bring their sons to the clubs and register them. Parents allow their children to join clubs and ensure that this does not come at the expense of education. Clubs want to create stars in the game who are also outstanding students at school or college," Al-Dabal noted. Al-Ittifaq Club has organized several cultural activities for its members including a book day. The club implemented several social initiatives because it believes strongly in developing society and raising public awareness about several issues. Dr. Abdulghani Al-Harbi, the deputy dean of sociology school and an associate professor of sociology, Umm Al-Qura University, blamed sports clubs for the negative stereotype most families hold about them. "I am sure parents shy away from clubs because they do not see these clubs implementing any social or cultural programs for society and members alike," he said. He criticized clubs for not making the most of their famous players who he said can be role models for youth and educate the public on important issues.
