RIYADH — A long-standing issue within the Saudi Arabian sports community reached its resolution on Monday, concerning the exclusion of six players from the national team's preparatory camp for the Asian Cup in Qatar, overseen by Italian technical director Roberto Mancini. The conclusion came with the conviction of the players, who faced fines and penalties for their refusal to participate.
The Saudi Football Federation's Professionalism and Players' Status Committee announced disciplinary actions against the players involved. Al Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi received a 5-month suspension and a fine of SR300,000 for events leading up to his exclusion from the team's lineup for the Asian Cup. Al-Aqidi had requested Mancini to postpone the camp or grant him special leave for personal reasons, expressing reluctance to accept his perceived position as the third-choice goalkeeper.
Additionally, Khalid Al-Ghanam, Ali Hazazi, and Mohammed Maran were each suspended for one month and fined SR200,000 for their decision to leave the camp after their names were omitted from the final roster, despite the possibility of adjustments until just before the first official match.
Salman Al-Faraj incurred a SR100,000 fine for expressing unwillingness to join the national team's camp in Portugal, violating commitments outlined in the Professionalism Regulation. This was established after testimonies from relevant parties, including coach Mancini and team officials.
Finally, Sultan Al-Ghanam was fined SR200,000 for requesting exemption from joining the team during a meeting with the coach, citing reservations about technical decisions. The committee determined that this request did not breach professionalism regulations.
These disciplinary measures underscore the Saudi Football Federation's commitment to upholding professionalism and adherence to regulations, ensuring accountability and discipline within the national team.
