Agency :
Home and away female football fans struck an enormous contrast as they cheered their teams at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow during Russia’s demolition of Saudi Arabia in the opening game of the World Cup .
In the Russian section of the stadium, many women were pictured wearing crop tops as they smiled into the camera and cheered for their country.
The female Saudi Arabian fans, however, were photographed wearing headscarves and face coverings – with only their eyes visible – in line with the Islamic theocracy’s strict modesty code for women.
Women were permitted to watch football at a stadium in the kingdom for the first time in January.
Russian fans and politicians joined in an outpouring of jubilation as the host nation unexpectedly routed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opener.
State television showed huge crowds of Russians outside Moscow’s main stadium cheering with flags but also stunned by the victory as the hosts are the lowest FIFA ranked team in the tournament.
‘We just didn’t expect it,’ a Russia supporter dressed in a helmet and medieval garb told state TV.
‘Thank you guys, thank you to the coach and thanks to (President Vladimir) Putin for this celebration! It’s great.’
‘This was the national team that we all want to see,’ Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov was quoted as saying by TASS news agency.
