Al Hilal Faces Sanctions for Withdrawing from Saudi Super Cup

Sports

Al Hilal Faces Sanctions for Withdrawing from Saudi Super Cup

3 months ago

News sources:

REUTERS

SCMP

DAWN

Al Hilal Faces Sanctions for Withdrawing from Saudi Super Cup

Credited from: SCMP

Al Hilal will be banned from the 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup due to withdrawal.
The club withdrew from the tournament citing player fatigue post-Club World Cup.
They were fined 500,000 Saudi Riyals for violating competition regulations.

Al Hilal, the defending champions, will be banned from the 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup if they qualify, following their recent withdrawal from the ongoing four-team competition in Hong Kong, as stated by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation's (SAFF) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee. The decision comes after Al Hilal cited player fatigue from their Club World Cup campaign, where they lost 2-1 to Fluminense in the quarter-finals on July 4, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Dawn.

The committee confirmed that Al Hilal violated Article (59-3) of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations, resulting in a fine of 500,000 Saudi Riyals (around $133,000) to be paid to the SAFF. Alongside the fine, they are also stripped of any financial awards from this season’s competition, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Al Hilal, expected to face King's Cup runners-up Al Qadsiah in the Super Cup semi-finals, will be replaced by the AFC Champions League winners Al Ahli. Since Al-Ittihad holds both the Pro League and King’s Cup titles, Al Nassr, who finished third in the league, has secured the additional Super Cup spot against Al Ahli, according to Dawn, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.