Latest news with #SAFF
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Al-Hilal withdraws from 2025 Saudi Super Cup citing fatigue, sparks debate on player welfare
Al‑Hilal will not participate in the 2025 Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong/Image: Instagram TL;DR: Al‑Hilal will not participate in the 2025 Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong due to severe player fatigue and leave shortfall. Flight delays and Club World Cup travel reduced annual leave to 21‑24 days, breaching SAFF 's minimum 28‑day requirement. Medical reviews confirmed 'extreme fatigue' after more than a year of back-to-back competition. SAFF may impose fines up to SAR 500,000 and appoint Al‑Ahli as replacement. The move underscores prioritizing player health and contract compliance over participation in exhibition tournaments. Saudi football powerhouse Al-Hilal has officially pulled out of the 2025 Saudi Super Cup, citing player exhaustion following a tightly packed season and insufficient rest time after their Club World Cup appearance in the United States. The club notified the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) that participation would breach player leave entitlements and health protocols, making them unfit for additional competition. Club Statement and Reasoning In a formal communication to SAFF, Al-Hilal laid out a detailed explanation for its decision. The club argued that its players had just concluded a strenuous international campaign at the FIFA Club World Cup, and were entitled to a minimum of 28 days of annual leave, as mandated under SAFF's Professionalism and Player Status Regulations. However, due to scheduling and travel complications, the players would only receive 21 days of rest if they went ahead with the Super Cup. The club's medical staff also issued warnings over widespread physical fatigue among key players, following nearly 12 months of uninterrupted domestic and international competition. Citing player safety and long-term performance, Al-Hilal decided that withdrawing was in the best interest of both its players and Saudi football. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo Why Was This Decision Made Now? The tipping point came with overlapping schedules. The Super Cup draw took place on June 19, just a day after Al-Hilal began its Club World Cup campaign. Following their elimination on July 4, players were delayed an extra three days in the US due to limited flights. This narrowed the rest period significantly. Further complicating matters, the final Super Cup venue, Hong Kong, was confirmed only on June 13, which gave clubs minimal preparation time and forced logistical adjustments mid-season. Who Is Al-Hilal? Al-Hilal SFC, based in Riyadh, is not just any football club. With a history spanning over six decades, it is one of the most decorated clubs in Asia: Five-time Saudi Super Cup champions (as of 2024) 19 Saudi Pro League titles Multiple AFC Champions League victories A consistent contributor to Saudi Arabia's national team player pool Known for its deep fanbase and star-studded squad, Al-Hilal is the Gulf's flagship football brand, having recently signed global icons and competed against teams like Real Madrid and Manchester City on the world stage. SAFF Response and Rule Violation SAFF acknowledged Al-Hilal's official withdrawal and stated that it would address the matter under the existing disciplinary framework. According to Article 8 of the Saudi Super Cup Regulations, any team pulling out after the tournament draw may face fines up to SAR 500,000 and exclusion from the next edition. The federation is now exploring alternatives, with reports suggesting that Al-Ahli could step in to replace Al-Hilal, provided they meet readiness requirements. Why It Matters Player Welfare at the Forefront This move marks a rare but growing trend among top-tier clubs: putting player health above short-term trophies. With global football becoming more congested, Al-Hilal's stance could influence scheduling reforms in the region. A Blow to Tournament Prestige Al-Hilal's exit removes one of the biggest draws from the Saudi Super Cup, potentially affecting ticket sales, broadcast value, and the event's international appeal. National Team Priorities The Saudi national team has World Cup qualifiers lined up later this year. Many of Al-Hilal's players are central to coach Roberto Mancini's plans, and this break gives them time to recover before crucial matches. Club vs. Federation Tensions? The decision also hints at ongoing friction between clubs and organizers regarding player welfare, calendar planning, and communication transparency. Al-Hilal's withdrawal from the Saudi Super Cup is more than a scheduling clash, it's a bold statement on how Gulf football is evolving. With elite clubs now balancing commercial obligations against player burnout, this episode may prompt serious introspection within SAFF and beyond. The coming weeks will reveal whether this sparks meaningful change, or if the weight of tradition and tournament prestige overrides concerns of fatigue and fairness.
RTHK
6 days ago
- Sport
- RTHK
Al-Ahli to replace Al-Hilal in HK Saudi Super Cup
Al-Ahli to replace Al-Hilal in HK Saudi Super Cup SAFF confirms that Al-Ahli, who finished fifth in the league this season, will take Al-Hilal's place in the Saudi Super Cup tournament in Hong Kong. File photo: AFP The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced on Wednesday that Al-Ahli will replace Al-Hilal in next month's Saudi Super Cup tournament in Hong Kong. This decision follows Al-Hilal's withdrawal announcement on Monday. The Saudi Pro League runners-up stated they would not send their team, citing contractual obligations concerning player annual leave and the need to safeguard player health. SAFF confirmed that Al-Ahli, who finished fifth in the league this season, will take Al-Hilal's place in the competition. The Saudi Super Cup will feature three matches held at Hong Kong Stadium. Al-Nassr will face Al-Ittihad on August 19, followed by Al-Qadsiah against the replacement team, Al-Ahli, the next day. The tournament concludes on August 23. Tournament organisers said fans who are holding tickets for the match originally scheduled between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Hilal can choose to retain their tickets for the rescheduled fixture featuring Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ahli, or request a full refund.
Arab Times
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Hilal withdraws from the 2025 Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong
RIYADH, July 21: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced that it has received an official letter from Al-Hilal Club, confirming the withdrawal of the club's first football team from the 2025/2026 Saudi Super Cup, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from August 19 to 23, 2025. In light of this development, the SAFF will move forward with the necessary actions by the competition's rules and regulations, through the appropriate committees. The Competitions Committee will oversee the completion of all related procedures, ensuring the continued implementation of the tournament's framework. The Federation reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the approved statutes and safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders, in line with the values outlined by its General Assembly. In an official statement released, Al-Hilal explained that the decision was made to prioritize player safety, especially for its international players who are expected to join the Saudi national team's training camp ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs in October. The club emphasized that the withdrawal comes in response to exceptional circumstances and reflects a desire to avoid overburdening players during a critical phase of the season. Al-Hilal further stated: 'We have called for a review of alternative solutions that can support the tournament's organization and fulfill its marketing and promotional goals in Hong Kong, while recognizing the team's current challenges.'
Reuters
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Al Hilal withdraw from the Saudi Super Cup
July 21 (Reuters) - Al Hilal are to skip the 2025-26 Saudi Super Cup, set for next month, amid their hectic schedule. Al Hilal finished the recent Saudi Pro League season second behind champions Al-Ittihad in late May, having been knocked out of the King's Cup quarter-finals and AFC Champions League elite semis. The Riyadh-based club then headed to the United States, where they kicked off their Club World Cup campaign on June 18 against giants Real Madrid. They made it to the knockout stages, where they stunned Manchester City in the last 16 before losing to Fluminense in the quarter-finals on July 4. The Saudi Super Cup is to be held between August 19-23 in Hong Kong, with the league campaign usually getting underway in late August. Their CWC campaign and following flight complications "reduced the players' annual leave to only 24 days in the event of withdrawal, and to 21 days if the club participated in the Super Cup," with the rules granting them "a minimum of 28 days of annual leave," the club said in a statement. Al Hilal were forced to postpone their pre-season preparations, "which further increased the competitive imbalance among participating clubs," the statement ran citing a letter sent to the local soccer federation. The Saudi federation (SAFF) said, in response, they "will begin taking the necessary measures in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations through the relevant committees," without providing more details.
Gulf Insider
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Insider
Al Hilal Withdraws from Saudi Super Cup
Al Hilal Football Club Company has officially decided that the first football team will not participate in the 2025/2026 edition of the Saudi Super decision was conveyed through a formal letter sent to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), in which the club outlined the exceptional circumstances that led to its withdrawal from the club explained that the Saudi Super Cup draw, held on June 19, 2025, came just one day after Al Hilal's opening group-stage match at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States against Real Saudi representative advanced honorably to the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals, the latter held on July that match, the team remained in Orlando for three additional days due to travel constraints—effectively limiting the players' off-season to just 24 days if the club withdrew from the Super Cup, or 21 days if it situation, the club stressed, violates clause (5.6) of the mandatory contract annexes under SAFF's Professionalism and Player Status Regulations, which guarantees players a minimum of 28 days of annual clause is also embedded in all professional contracts signed with Al Hilal's first-team letter also highlighted that these exceptional circumstances resulted in the players' annual leave overlapping with the pre-season periods of other clubs, putting Al Hilal at a competitive club has yet to commence its pre-season preparations—delayed due to the extended season and limited recovery time. Moreover, the domestic competition calendar issued by SAFF on June 1 made no mention of the Super Cup being hosted in Hong location was only announced on June 13, after the team had already departed for the U.S., and before any Club World Cup matches had been played. At the time, the duration of their international campaign remained Hilal emphasized its pride in the Super Cup, a tournament it has won on multiple the club noted that a physical and muscular assessment of several players showed signs of extreme fatigue after a year-long campaign, compounded by national team duty and participation in the Club World decision not to participate, it said, serves both the club's long-term interests and those of the Saudi national team, which is set to begin a crucial training camp in October ahead of World Cup qualification playoffs—featuring many Al Hilal club called on SAFF to explore alternative solutions that would allow the tournament to proceed as planned in Hong Kong without its participation, and ensure the event achieves its intended marketing and promotional Hilal stressed that its decision stems from a need to preserve player health following an intensive season representing the Kingdom on the global confirmed receipt of Al Hilal's decision and stated that it will initiate the necessary procedures under the relevant federation added that the matter will be reviewed by the competent committees in accordance with the organizational rules of the Saudi Super said that the federation is now considering inviting Al Ahli to replace Al Hilal, pending confirmation of the club's readiness. A final decision is expected also dismissed the idea of granting Al Qadsiah automatic passage to the final, citing Article 8 of the Super Cup regulations, which treats post-draw withdrawals as violations. Such cases are referred to the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, with fines of up to SR500,000 and compensation for damages potentially imposed. Also read: Authorities Shut Down Two Warehouses for Repackaging Expired Children's Food
