Shocking scenes unfolded at the Saudi Super Cup final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, after Al-Ittihad’s 4-1 defeat to Al-Hilal. Viral footage on social media showed Al-Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah throwing water at a fan from his bottle, leading to an attack by the enraged fan who brandished a whip and lashed Hamdallah.
The player’s teammates intervened to pull him to safety as the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) condemned the “disgraceful” and “shocking” scenes, emphasizing that fan disorder is extremely rare in Saudi football but stating that there will be a thorough review of the spectator code of conduct and that updated rules and regulations will be put in place to impose suitable penalties to prevent such incidents from happening again. The federation emphasized the importance of maintaining a secure environment for everyone involved in the game and stated that despite the match taking place outside of Saudi Arabia, they remain committed to prioritizing safety and well-being at stadiums.
This incident will lead to a thorough review of the spectator code of conduct and updated rules and regulations to avoid any repeat of such incidents in the future. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Football Players Association of Saudi Arabia are committed to maintaining a secure environment for everyone involved in the game, even when matches take place outside of Saudi Arabia.
