Saudi Super Cup Saga: Al-Ahli’s Historic Win Amid Controversy and Courtroom Drama

The Super Cup Controversy Speaks Volumes

Yasser Al-Mishal, president of the Saudi Football Federation, addressed the era’s most pressing headlines in a recent televised interview, with the Super Cup saga taking center stage. He stated that the federation bears responsibility for what transpired and that the actions of the Appeals Committee before the matches hurt the tournament’s reputation, labeling those pre-match decisions as a mistake.

Al-Mishal confirmed that the competition records list Al-Ahli as the title holder, but the Saudi Arbitration Center is currently examining the case. He stressed that the federation will respect and immediately implement any decision, even if it means declaring Al-Qadisiyah the winner over Al-Hilal and stripping the cup from Al-Ahli.

He also commented on Nawaf Al-Aqidi, the Al-Nassr goalkeeper, and his suspension from participating in the Asian Elite competition after being left out of the Asian Cup two seasons ago. He said, “Al-Aqidi was not suspended by anyone; the federation did not inform anyone of an suspension in Asia. If there is a suspension, ask the club, not the federation.” He added that if he had played in Asia, there would be no punishment because his participation would be legitimate, and the Ministry of Sport did not intervene in these decisions.

On Hervé Renard, the national team coach, Al-Mishal stated, “Renard will remain in charge of the Saudi team through the 2027 Asian Cup, and we are fully convinced by him.” He also denied persistent rumors that Italian coach Roberto Mancini holds a buyout of 50 million euros, calling the figure false. He noted that the claim Mancini earns 25 million euros is also incorrect, adding that the coach reportedly received only about a third of the mentioned amount and that the buyout does not exceed three months’ salary.

Saudi Super Cup fate

The federation’s Appeals Committee caused a major stir in August by penalizing withdrawals related to the Super Cup. The case followed Al-Ahli’s victory over Al-Nassr on penalties (5-3) after a 2-2 draw in regulation time in Hong Kong. The committee had considered Hilal the loser against Al-Qadisiyah (0-3) in the semifinals, implying the latter would have advanced to the final and then defeated Al-Ahli 5-1.

Yaqub Al-Mutairi, the legal adviser, warned that the trophy could be stripped from Al-Ahli if Al-Nassr lodges an appeal, noting that the panel’s rationale had not yet been published but consistently argued that Hilal’s withdrawal should be treated as a loss to Al-Qadisiyah, who would then advance to the final. He also argued that the timing was inappropriate, suggesting the decision should have been announced sooner rather than just two hours before the match.

By contrast, Ahmed Al-Sheikhi, another legal adviser, argued that Al-Nassr is not a party to the dispute and that even if they protested, the case would center on Al-Qadisiyah’s standing. He warned that the decision was vague and implied that Hilal could be barred from future editions of the competition.

Historical surprise

Under German coach Matias Jaissle, Al-Ahli clinched the Saudi Super Cup for the second time, ending a nine-year drought since their 2016 triumph. The win marked a historic milestone as the first team from outside the top four in the league to lift the trophy, challenging the era’s dominant clubs. Throughout the competition’s history, the top four finishers typically dominated the entrants, making this victory a standout outlier.

Historically, the competition’s winners have included team captains of the league’s top ranks, with editions such as 2013 (Al-Fateh), 2014 (Al-Shabab), 2015 (Al-Hilal), 2016 (Al-Ahli), 2018 (Al-Hilal), 2019 (Al-Nassr), 2020 (Al-Nassr), 2021 (Al-Hilal), 2022 (Al-Ittihad), 2023 (Al-Hilal), and 2024 (Al-Hilal). The 2024 edition’s outcome demonstrated that a non-top-four club could still seize a major trophy, reshaping the traditional narrative of the competition’s exclusivity.

In the end, Jaissle’s Al-Ahli added a new chapter to Saudi football history by lifting the Cup, an achievement celebrated amid controversy and anticipation about future editions.

And now for a couple of light lines to cap this piece: “In football, if you can’t change the referee, at least change the scoreline in stoppage time—science says it works in fiction as well.” And: “They say the truth in a press conference is like a perfect volley—hard to replicate, but when it lands, everybody laughs and claps anyway.”