In the first official reaction to the recent decisions, Riyadh Al-Mazhar, the official spokesman for Al-Ittihad Club, commented on the harsh penalty issued by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, which included banning Al-Ittihad fans from attending and fining the club financially, in light of the events that accompanied the exciting Jeddah derby.
In an interview with Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, Al-Mazhar clarified the club's legal and administrative position, stating: “The controversial banner was displayed in Al-Ahli Club's stands, not ours, and the matter is still under review. We have officially requested the reasoning behind the decision, and we affirm that the Al-Ittihad administration will not relinquish any of the club's rights.” He added, praising the club's fan base: “Al-Ittihad's fans need no further explanation; they have proven since the club's inception that they are the greatest and strongest fan base, and their support for the team will not change or waver because of these decisions.”.
Details of the penalty and background of the Jeddah derby
The Disciplinary Committee officially announced the suspension of Al-Ittihad fans, banning them from attending one official match, in addition to imposing a fine of 200,000 Saudi Riyals. These decisions were based on observations made during the derby match against arch-rivals Al-Ahli, specifically regarding a banner that the committee deemed to be in violation of the regulations and bylaws of the Saudi Professional League.
Competition context and decision impact
These events come at a time when Saudi football is experiencing tremendous development and unprecedented global attention. The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee is committed to strictly enforcing regulations to ensure that matches, especially major derbies, are organized to the highest standards. The Jeddah derby between Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli is one of the oldest and fiercest derbies in the Arab world and the Middle East, always characterized by intense competition and massive fan attendance that creates spectacular displays (tifos) that are widely reported by international media.
The decision to ban fans is expected to have a significant technical and psychological impact on the team in their upcoming match, given the pivotal role the "Golden Stand" plays in motivating the players and putting pressure on opponents. Al-Ittihad's fans are a crucial factor in the league equation, consistently recording the highest attendance figures throughout the season.
Legal path and the team's future
Procedurally, the request for the "grounds of the decision," as Al-Mazhar indicated, is the first and necessary legal step before filing a formal appeal against the penalty. Through this step, the federation's management seeks to prove its fans' lack of responsibility for the banner in question, especially given the spokesperson's confirmation that it was displayed in the opposing team's section, which could alter the course of the case if the appeal is accepted.
Technically, Al-Ittihad enters this administrative battle buoyed by an important victory it recently achieved against Al-Shabab Club with a score of two goals to nil, in the match that took place at Al-Inma Stadium as part of the last round of the Roshan League, which confirms the focus of the players and the technical staff on the green field despite the surrounding crises.
