A female photographer has been banned from flying with the
Romanian soccer team because of superstitions that women
could bring bad luck.
Gabriela Arsenie, employed by sports daily Gazeta
Sporturilor, was set to fly with the squad for a friendly in
the Ukraine. She drove to Donetsk instead.
Romania federation spokesman Sorin Satmari said there was a
superstition against women travelling with soccer teams, but
denied that was the case with Arsenie. He claimed she did
not request a plane seat in time.
However, reporter Decebal Radulescu said Arsenie requested a
seat with her newspaper reporter, a man, on August 3. Her
colleague flew with the national team.
"We are all equals and (she) was just doing her job,"
Radulescu said. "The right to do her job was restricted."
Romanian soccer is steeped in superstition. Women are not
allowed to travel on planes with soccer teams, and a soccer
team's bus is not allowed to reverse. Also, soccer players
are supposed to step on the field with their right foot.