Mystery Omission: Al-Aboud Benched in Al-Ittihad vs Al-Shabab
29 December 2025
What happened
Coach has not explained the reason for the omission.
Saudi press reports revealed why Abdul Rahman Al-Aboud, a key Al-Ittihad player, was left out of the squad for the latest match against Al-Shabab in the Roshen Saudi Pro League.
Al-Ittihad defeated their rivals 2-0 on Saturday, securing the win in the eleventh round of the season.
The Middle East newspaper said the lineup omitted Faisal Al-Ghamdi and Abdul Rahman Al-Aboud, noting that coach Sergio Conceicao explained the former's absence was due to a muscle injury sustained against NASAF in the AFC Champions League Elite, but did not disclose the reason for Al-Aboud.
The newspaper added that the secrecy behind Al-Aboud's omission stems from a disciplinary decision by the Portuguese coach, who chose not to play the player against the Lions.
Earlier this month, Al-Ittihad announced the extension of Al-Aboud's contract through 2027.
Al-Aboud has played 151 games for the Tigers across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and providing 22 assists.
Punchline 1: If bench-pressing discipline were a sport, the coach would take the crown for precision. Bang.
Punchline 2: In football, the sniper’s shot is the bench—quiet, quick, and always aimed at the right place.
