Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The Saudi Soccer Federation’s appeals committee has overturned a earlier disciplinary verdict in opposition to Al Hilal however confirmed extreme sanctions that would bar the Riyadh giants from competing in subsequent season’s King’s Cup.
In a shock resolution introduced lower than an hour earlier than Saturday’s Saudi Tremendous Cup ultimate between Al Nassr and Al Ahli in Hong Kong, the committee upheld Al Hilal’s punishment for withdrawing from this yr’s competitors, ruling the membership had forfeited its semifinal match in opposition to Al Qadsiah by a 3-0 scoreline.
The ruling leaves Al Hilal beneath immense stress to safe a qualifying place for the 2026 Saudi Tremendous Cup.
Failure to take action may see the suspension carried over to the next knockout competitors — the distinguished King’s Cup — successfully banning the nine-time Professional League champions from the crown jewel of the home calendar.
The appeals committee defined that whereas it accepted Hilal’s attraction on procedural grounds, it canceled the unique disciplinary resolution and imposed contemporary penalties: a SR500,000 tremendous, exclusion from all prize cash associated to the Tremendous Cup, forfeiture of attraction charges, and a one-season ban from the following accessible knockout competitors.
The choice stays open to problem on the Saudi Sports activities Arbitration Heart.
The fallout has prolonged past Hilal. Al Qadsiah are actually getting ready to lodge a protest over Al Ahli’s eligibility to take part within the Tremendous Cup after the Jeddah membership was admitted as a substitute for Hilal by the competitions committee.
Al Qadsiah argue they need to have been superior on to the ultimate after Hilal’s withdrawal, moderately than going through Al Ahli within the semifinal — a match they misplaced 5-1.
The Saudi Soccer Federation tried to defuse controversy mid-final, issuing an announcement minutes after kickoff that confirmed Al Ahli’s participation was “reliable and never topic to attraction” beneath Article 4.6 of the competitors rules.
The federation acknowledged, nevertheless, that every one choices of the appeals committee may nonetheless be taken to arbitration.
