Esther González, a World Cup champion with Spain and openly lesbian, has just signed with Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, a decision that was already sparking debate because of the country she chose to move to. But then something happened that drew even more attention: the photographs showing her alongside her wife and son disappeared from her social media accounts.
The 33-year-old footballer had publicly shared parts of her family life in recent years. González is married to Estefanía Cruz, and the two have an eight-month-old son. However, before her official presentation with the Saudi club, the family photos were no longer visible on their profiles.
González has not publicly explained why she deleted the photographs, so there is no confirmation that Al-Qadsiah, the Saudi authorities, or anyone else required her to do so.
But the context in Saudi Arabia has raised questions about the decision.
Same-sex relationships are criminalized in the country, and LGBTQ+ visibility can have consequences. In addition, La Vanguardia recently recalled several cases reported by Amnistía Internacional in which foreigners were detained and taken to court over content posted on social media that authorities deemed contrary to Saudi laws.
That is why some media outlets and users have interpreted the disappearance of the photographs as an attempt to keep her family life and sexual orientation out of the public eye while she plays in Saudi Arabia. But, again, that explanation has not been confirmed by González.
The situation is especially striking because just a few months ago, her family life was publicly visible. Now, following her arrival in the country, that content has practically disappeared.
And that is where the debate lies: is this simply a personal decision about what to show on social media, or an adaptation to the social and legal restrictions of the country where she now works?
González has the right to decide what she publishes and where she plays. But her signing also raises an uncomfortable question: to what extent can an LGBTQ+ athlete publicly maintain her identity in a country where same-sex relationships are persecuted?
For now, the only person who could answer what happened to those photographs is Esther González herself.