Barcelona football club has sparked a sexism row after players of the men’s and women’s teams flew in separate parts of the plane.
The men’s team enjoyed the luxury of business class on a flight bound for Portland, United States where the club’s pre-season tour is taking place.
But one Twitter account noticed the women’s team, who were on the same flight, were forced to put up with economy seats, causing outrage.
Players from Barcelona men’s and women’s teams pose for photographs in business class on a flight to the US ahead of the club’s mixed-sex pre-season tour
Barcelona Femeni player Gemma Gili Giner takes a selfie with a teammate in economy class, where the women’s team were forced to sit
The men meanwhile, mostly ‘B’ team players as World Cup stars have an extended break from training, lived it up in business class
Prior to take-off both the men and women posed for a photo-op in business class as part of Barcelona’s first-ever mixed-sex tour.
Twitter account @BarcaWomen spotted something amiss however while following the girl’s individual social media accounts.
It was realised that the women spent the duration of the flight in economy class while the men remained up front in business.
Most of the men’s squad were made-up of ‘B’ team players as stars like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are given extended rest from the World Cup in Russia last month.
Angered social media users cried foul over gender inequality in the sport.
But both Barcelona and a member of the women’s Femeni team have played down the situation.
According to Marca, the club said they didn’t yet know that the women’s team would be joining this tour when they chartered the flight.
They also argued that there were only 36 spaces in first class and each female played was booked three seats for comfort.
Women’s striker Alexia Putellas added:
‘Barcelona back women’s football, but it’s something that can’t go straight from zero to 100.
Both men’s and women’s team players pose for a photograph captioned ‘two teams, same spirit’ on Barca’s pre-season tour in Portland
Squad members pose for photographs up front in business class while their female counterparts flew in economy
‘We are fortunate, keeping in mind the reality of Spanish women’s football.
‘I wish we always went to places like this. Not long ago we had long journeys by car, which was bad.’
She also mentioned the club had ‘to organise everything practically at the last minute’.
The situation leaves an embarrassing mark on the Barcelona’s mixed-sex pre-season tour, touted as the first in their history.
Both sets of players have been involved in promotional activities with sponsors, posing for photographs at training that were tagged ‘two teams, same spirit’.