When Broadcast Sparks a Fire: Al Shabab’s Furious Stand Before the King’s Cup Clash
27 October 2025
Broadcast controversy before the King’s Cup clash
Al Shabab issued an official, strongly worded statement criticizing the decision not to air their Round of 16 King’s Cup match versus Al Zulfi on television, noting that the game would only be streamed via the competition’s official app.
Al Shabab’s opponent Al Zulfi competes in the First Division’s division commonly referred to as Yelo, after they eliminated Al-Fayha in the previous round, while Shabab had advanced past Abha to reach this stage.
The club lamented the lack of TV coverage and contrasted it with other matches that day that were broadcast on television by the same broadcaster, questioning the technical or timing rationale for excluding this particular game.
In the club’s statement, Al Shabab asserted that the decision undermines the team’s historic status and its broad nationwide support, calling on the broadcaster to reconsider and vowing to defend its rights through all legal and media avenues.
Meanwhile, the piece notes that this was part of a broader debate sparked by the recent Clasico between Al Ittihad and Al Hilal, with reports suggesting Ittihad fans felt the broadcaster failed to reflect their presence, while voices from Hilal supporters were clearly audible.
Clásico fallout and Noor’s remarks on Conceicao
Former Al Ittihad legend Mohammed Noor detailed his conversations with Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, praising the coach’s bold decision to drop Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajković for the Clasico, despite the controversy surrounding the choice.
The remarks followed Ittihad’s 0-2 loss to Hilal at the Al-Inma stadium in the Roshen Saudi Pro League clash, marking Conceicao’s first major setback in these derbies.
Noor described Conceicao as a pragmatic coach who quickly reshaped the team’s tactical identity, saying players now run with a clear system, even when the result isn’t ideal—the play is organized and purposeful.
He added that Conceicao’s courage in decision-making reflects leadership, and that bold moves belong to the coach in big games, even if mistakes accompany them.
Support for benching the goalkeeper
Noor praised Conceicao’s decision to bench the goalkeeper in the big match, while acknowledging that the earlier error by Hamid Al-Shenqiti contributed to the result. Noor argued that the coach must shoulder responsibility in such games and that the bold call showcases leadership.
He concluded that trust in the coach’s method matters and that the club values the bravery to act in the team’s best interests, even if it comes with hiccups along the way.
Punchline 1: If your broadcast plan is as loud as the crowd, the ratings will follow—until then, enjoy the background buffering of drama.
Punchline 2: In football, if you can’t find the sound of the fans, just invent it—nothing says “team spirit” like a well-timed soundtrack from the streaming app.
