Informed sources confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the project to acquire Al-Ittihad Club, “owned by the Public Investment Fund,” has reached its final stages, amid the presence of three investment files that have applied to acquire the club, represented by alliances that include local and international investors and companies.
According to the sources, the first file includes the alliance of Sidra Financial Company and Blue Five Capital, while the second file brings together the American Glazer family and businessman Suhaib Jamjoom, and the third file includes Prince Saad bin Abdullah and American businessman Josh Harris.
The sources indicated that the three alliances passed the initial stages of negotiations and reached the final stage. According to the same sources, the purchase offers submitted to the three alliances are close in general estimated value, without the sources disclosing the numbers.
The sources pointed out that the expected date for completing the ownership transfer process is not clear for a moment, stressing that the three alliances have chances to win the acquisition, provided that the Public Investment Fund, as the current owner, determines which alliance will be granted the right to acquire the club.
The Gulf Football Association officially decided today, Sunday, to consider the Saudi Al-Ettifaq as a loser to the Iraqi Erbil, with a score of 3-0, in the Gulf Clubs Champions League competitions, against the backdrop of the Saudi team’s delegation not traveling to Iraq to fight the confrontation that was scheduled between the two teams on the twenty-eighth of last month.
The decision ruled that Al-Ettifaq was considered withdrawn from the match, and that Erbil won by three free goals, in accordance with the regulations organizing the competition.
Informed sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the management of Al-Ittifaq Club expressed its reservations about the decision, and is studying the options available to it, including filing an appeal with the competent authorities, or accepting the decision issued by the Gulf Federation.
The sources indicated that the club’s management has not decided its final position yet, awaiting the completion of studying the decision and evaluating the chances of objecting to it, and the extent to which it is based on the rules and regulations in force in the tournament.
Sources in the Asian Football Confederation revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Continental Confederation’s Competitions Department proposed next December 28 as the date for the match between Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia and Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates, which was postponed from the third round in the league stage of the AFC Elite Champions League.
The file is still under study by the relevant authorities in the AFC, against the backdrop of the official letter submitted by the Al-Nasr administration, accompanied by documents confirming the club’s readiness to host the confrontation, and the possibility of the UAE team delegation arriving in Riyadh and holding the match on its original date.
The details of the case are due to the Al-Wasl delegation not traveling to the Kingdom, and thus not playing the match on its scheduled date, which prompted Al-Nasr to address the Continental Federation, demanding that its organizational and legal rights be preserved, and confirming its full readiness to host the match and provide all the necessary facilities for its holding.
The competent committees in the AFC continue to study the file from all its logistical and legal aspects, amid anticipation of the issuance of the final official decision before the end of this month, whether adopting the proposed date for holding the match or deciding its result, in a way that ensures fair competition and regular conduct of the continental championship.
The Saudi Football Association had confirmed, in an official statement, its coordination with Al-Nasr Club and the relevant authorities to complete the necessary procedures and arrangements to receive the Al-Wasl delegation, including issuing flight permits and providing regulatory and logistical requirements, and notifying the Asian and Emirati Federations and Al-Wasl Club of this. The statement indicated that the match observer and the refereeing team arrived in Riyadh, in preparation for the match to be held on time.
The Saudi Federation stressed its full support for Al-Nasr Club and all Saudi clubs participating in foreign competitions, stressing its readiness to provide the necessary support in any legal measures taken by the clubs to preserve their rights.
For his part, Malaysian Dato' Sri Windsor John, Secretary-General of the Asian Football Confederation, confirmed in a previous statement published by Asharq Al-Awsat that the relevant committees will study and review all the data related to the decision to postpone the match between Al-Nasr and Al-Wasl, indicating that the circumstances of not holding the match on time are subject to the discretion of the relevant committees, in accordance with the regulations in force in continental competitions.
