Women fans boost

FEMALE soccer fans were expected at a stadium in the western Saudi city of Jeddah overnight, marking the first time women were allowed to attend soccer matches in the conservative kingdom. Around 10,000 seats had been allocated for women and families in King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah for the domestic league match between alAhly and al-Baten. It is one of only three games that Saudi authorities said women would be allowed to attend this month. The others are in the capital Riyadh and the eastern city of Dammam.