Saudi Arabian women were allowed into a football stadium to watch a match for the first time on Friday, as the ultra-conservative kingdom begins to gradually ease restrictions on women’s rights.

For decades women have been forbidden from male only stadiums but on Friday they were allowed into a Saudi Premier League game in the coastal city of Jeddah.

Women were allowed to sit only in the “family section” and could not mix freely with the largely male crowd. But the moment was still hailed as breakthrough in a country consistently ranked as one of the worst places in the world for women’s rights.

“I am proud and extremely happy for this development and for the kingdom's moves to catch up with civilised measures adopted by many countries," said Ruwayda Ali Qassem.

Female Fans of Jeddah’s al-Ahli Football Club wore green scarves over their black abayas during the match against the eastern province team of al-Batin.