Al-Nassr's Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus, addressed a strongly worded message to critics of his recent statements regarding Al-Hilal, demanding respect for him and urging everyone not to misinterpret his words or speak on his behalf. This came during the press conference he held following his team's thrilling 3-2 victory over Al-Shabab in the 16th round of the Saudi Professional League.
An angry message demanding respect
In his remarks, Jesus stated clearly, "I ask people to respect me and not speak on my behalf and misinterpret my words," emphasizing his deep gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and his determination to respect everyone there until the last day of his professional career. This response comes after a storm of controversy sparked by the Portuguese coach's previous statements in which he described Al-Hilal's league lead as a result of "political power" wielded by their arch-rivals, a claim Al-Hilal fans considered baseless and unfounded.
Background to the crisis and escalating tension
The roots of the crisis lie in Jesus's justifications for his team's poor results compared to Al-Hilal. He pointed to significant refereeing errors, claiming his team "doesn't have the same off-field influence" as their rivals. While he acknowledged individual and collective technical errors that contributed to setbacks against teams like Al-Ahli and Al-Qadisiyah, his allusions to political influence sparked widespread anger among Al-Hilal supporters.
Official reactions and prominent figures
Al-Hilal Club was quick to respond, issuing an official statement condemning Jesus's remarks as "irresponsible" and asserting that they contained slanderous accusations that undermine the integrity of the competition amidst the Kingdom's current sporting renaissance. The club's management announced its intention to file a formal complaint with the relevant authorities to protect the club's rights.
Regarding Al-Hilal figures, Prince Abdul Rahman bin Musaed, the club's former president, responded via the "X" platform, questioning the nature of this alleged political power and reminding everyone of Jesus's own failure with Al-Hilal in a previous stint, where he lost titles despite the same administration. Al-Hilal legend Sami Al-Jaber, who was instrumental in bringing Jesus to the region for the first time in 2018, also commented, describing the statement as "unfortunate and offensive," and expressing his confidence in Prince Nawaf bin Saad's administration to take the necessary legal action.
The context of the competition and the importance of the Saudi League
These statements are of particular importance given the historic stage that the Saudi Professional League (Roshan League) is going through, which has become the focus of the world’s attention thanks to attracting the most prominent international football stars within the framework of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The rivalry between the two Riyadh giants, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, is no longer just a local matter, but has become a global event followed by international media, which makes any statement issued by coaches or players have a wide resonance and a direct impact on the image of the competition.
Saudi sports authorities are keen to promote the values of fair play and high professionalism. Statements that question the integrity of the competition or allude to off-field influence are viewed with extreme sensitivity, as they could negatively impact the significant sporting achievements of recent years. This incident is expected to have disciplinary repercussions to ensure that competition remains confined to the field, away from media attacks that could violate the spirit of sportsmanship.
