Al-Hilal, the defending champions, will face a ban from the Saudi Super Cup for the 2026-27 season if they qualify, due to their decision to pull out of this year’s tournament. This announcement was made by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation on Tuesday.
Club World Cup Fatigue Cited as Reason for Hong Kong Withdrawal
Al-Hilal has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Super Cup, which was set to take place in Hong Kong from August 19 to 23. They made this choice because their players are feeling tired after competing in the Club World Cup, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Fluminense with a score of 2-1 on July 4.
Official Schedule Ignored Leading to Rule Violation
“Al-Hilal has decided not to take part in the Saudi Super Cup for the 2025-2026 season after the competition’s schedule was announced, according to a statement from the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.”
Substantial Fine Imposed for Ethics Regulation Breach
The committee decided that Al-Hilal had broken a specific rule related to sports conduct and ethics. As a result, the club was fined 500,000 Saudi Riyals, which is equivalent to over $133,000. This amount is to be paid to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).
Along with receiving a fine, the club has been barred from taking part in the Super Cup for the 2026-27 season and will not receive any prize money that was supposed to be awarded for this season’s competition.
The committee stated that their decision can be challenged or contested.
Al-Hilal has been requested to share their thoughts or response.
Defending Champions’ Record Legacy in Tournament
They secured the Super Cup title by winning against Al-Nassr last season, marking their fifth time achieving this record.
Tournament Qualification Structure Explained
The winning team from the King’s Cup and the runner-up team from the Saudi Pro League play each other in the Saudi Super Cup. In the 2024-25 season, Al-Hilal, a well-known team, came in second place in the Pro League, finishing behind Al-Ittihad.
AFC Champions League Winners Al-Ahli Step In as Replacement
Al-Hilal was supposed to play the King’s Cup runners-up, Al Qadsiah, in the Super Cup semi-finals on August 20. The AFC Champions League winners, Al Ahli, have taken Al-Hilal’s place.
Special Qualification Circumstances for Al-Nassr
Al-Ittihad recently claimed victories in both the Pro League and the King’s Cup, which means there was an extra chance to compete in the Super Cup. Al-Nassr, who placed third in the league, was given this chance. On August 19, Al-Nassr will play Al-Ittihad in the semifinals.
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