From the Spotlight to Scrutiny: Renard Under Fire After Saudi Arabia’s Arab Cup Exit

Controversy after Arab Cup exit

The critic and journalist Mohammed Al-Sheikh unleashed sharp criticisms at French coach Hervé Renard, the Saudi national team's boss, after his remarks following the semifinal exit from the Arab Cup.

Saudi Arabia fell 1-0 to Jordan, a defeat that keeps Jordan's side in the running to face Morocco on Thursday for the title.

After the match, Renard spoke at the press conference, saying the team had not bowed out yet and remains in contention for third place.

That remark did not sit well with Mohammed Al-Sheikh, who described Renard's statements as provocative during an interview on the program Action with Walid.

Sheikh asked aloud that Renard might say such things if he coached France in a major tournament, not in a regional event where most teams field fringe squads, and that he still pursues third and fourth—an attitude that would not go over well with fans.

He added that he believes Renard is trying to provoke the Saudi Football Federation to trigger the contract's severance clause, potentially paving the way to coach another national team before the 2026 World Cup, noting he had previously coached France's women's team.

Sheikh then moved to criticize the federation, urging president Yasser Al-Mishal to resign and blaming him for the setback, arguing that the federation enjoyed a large budget and resources without matching results.

Sheikh also noted that multiple leadership and technical posts have changed hands in recent years without translating into better performances, saying the current phase calls for drastic decisions.

The article also includes a TikTok embed featuring a clip from Action with Walid.

Punchline 1: If coaching were stand-up, Renard would close the act with a dramatic timeout — delaying results with style.

Punchline 2: In football, contracts are receipts; they rust if you ignore them long enough, and the warranty expires when you win nothing.