The Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee issued its official and final decision regarding Al-Ittihad's protest against the eligibility of Al-Hilal player Abdullah Al-Hamdan to participate in the derby match between the two teams in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. The committee announced its rejection of the protest on substantive grounds, while accepting it on procedural grounds, thus upholding the match result as a victory for Al-Hilal.
The committee's official statement, published on the Saudi Football Federation's social media accounts, read: "Al-Ittihad's protest is accepted in form but rejected on its merits." The statement added: "The protest fee paid by Al-Ittihad is to be forfeited to the Saudi Football Federation's account," confirming that the decision is subject to appeal in accordance with Article (144) of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations.
Background of the protest and context of the competition
The details of the case date back to the famous derby match held at the Kingdom Arena, which ended with Al-Hilal winning 3-1. Following the match, Al-Ittihad's management filed an official protest, believing that player Abdullah Al-Hamdan was ineligible to participate due to an accumulation of yellow cards. This move sparked widespread controversy in Saudi sporting circles, given the intense rivalry between the two teams, which is considered one of the most important and fiercely contested matches in the history of Saudi football.
The importance of the decision and its impact on the course of the league
The Disciplinary Committee's decision is of paramount importance to both teams and to the overall Roshan League title race. For Al-Hilal, this decision secures three valuable points, strengthening their lead at the top of the table and widening the gap between them and their closest rivals, bringing them one step closer to reclaiming the title. For Al-Ittihad, however, the decision represents a significant blow to their hopes of closing the gap with the leading teams and definitively confirms their loss of the match points, unless the club's management decides to escalate the matter to the Saudi Sports Arbitration Center.
Future implications and the open door for appeal
Although the Disciplinary Committee's decision is a significant chapter in this case, it may not be the final one. The regulations grant Al-Ittihad the right to appeal the decision to higher sports judicial bodies. This decision puts an end to media and public speculation for now, but at the same time, it reinforces the importance of legal and administrative accuracy in recording and monitoring player cautions. It also sets a precedent that may be used in similar cases in the future, thus enhancing transparency and professionalism in the management of football competitions in the Kingdom.
