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The decision ruled that Al-Ettifaq was considered withdrawn from the match, and that Erbil won by three free goals, in accordance with the regulations organizing the competition.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.
The attention of mixed martial arts fans will turn to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on December 5, when the Nigerian Israel Adesanya, twice crowned UFC middleweight champion, will face the Russian Shara Magomedov, who has 17 victories against one loss, in the main bout of the “UFC Fight Night” tournament, within the activities of the Riyadh season, in an evening that includes a series of confrontations between fighters from all over the world.
Adesanya is entering the confrontation in search of regaining the tone of victories and strengthening his position among the most prominent competitors in the middleweight category, while Magomedov, known as “Shara Bullet,” is looking forward to achieving an important victory in his professional career against one of the most prominent names in the history of the tournament, in a fight that brings together two fighters distinguished by their combat skills and offensive capabilities.
In the welterweight competitions, Irishman Ian Machado Gary will meet Ukrainian Yaroslav Amosov, facing off against a gathering of two fighters with high competitive experience and diverse technical skills, amid anticipation of a fight that is expected to witness strong competition between the two sides.
The heavyweight competition will witness a confrontation between Moldovan Sergey Spivak and Portuguese Mario Pinto, in a fight that is expected to witness a strong physical struggle, as the two fighters seek to achieve a result that strengthens their presence in this category.
The welterweight confrontations continue with a fight between Georgian Levan Chukhali and Turkish Islam Dolatov, as each of them looks forward to proving his abilities and continuing to advance in his professional career.
In the lightweight competition, Brazilian Myron Santos faces his Kyrgyz counterpart, Akbar Abdullaev, who enters the fight with an undefeated record, having achieved 14 victories in 14 matches, seeking to maintain his perfect record against a competitor who is in turn looking to strengthen his position in the tournament.
The announced card also includes a confrontation in the light heavyweight category, between Russian Magomed Tochalov and Moldovan Ion Kutilaba, completing the list of six fights announced so far, distributed over five different weight categories.
