Al-Hababi demands disclosure of club support figures and the truth about the Ronaldo case
In fiery statements given exclusively to Okaz newspaper, Abdulhadi Al-Hababi, head of the Sports Investment and Events Committee of the Saudi-Spanish Business Council, issued strong warnings about how to deal with the case of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nasr club, calling for the need to abandon the policy of silence or to be satisfied with general statements that do not satisfy the thirst of the sports community.
The Ronaldo project: More than just a player transfer
Al-Hababi emphasized that signing Cristiano Ronaldo was not merely a traditional football player transfer, but rather the launch of a comprehensive sports project aligned with the Kingdom's ambitious vision for the sports sector. He explained that the arrival of the "Madeira Rocket" fundamentally altered the landscape of the Saudi Professional League (the Roshan League), contributing to a significant increase in the competition's market value, attracting global attention, and paving the way for attracting international stars and substantial international investments. Furthermore, he played a prominent role in promoting Saudi tourism at every event he attended, declaring his loyalty to the Kingdom on numerous occasions.
Imbalance and unfulfilled promises
Speaking about the current crisis, Al-Hababi pointed out that the decision to renew confidence and continue the project was based on clear commitments to build a strong, competitive team and grant full administrative authority, which initially bore fruit with Al-Nasr's rise to the top and a record-breaking winning streak. However, the situation changed dramatically, as he described it, with the withdrawal of authority and the halt of necessary reinforcements during the winter transfer window, contradicting the announced commitments.
The senior official drew attention to a crucial point regarding the principle of equal opportunities, noting that a rival team received exceptional support that included unprecedented contracts, which created an imbalance in the competition and raised legitimate questions among observers inside and outside the Kingdom about the fairness of the distribution of support.
The impact of the crisis on investment and international reputation
Al-Hababi warned that dealing with Ronaldo's institutional objections—which stemmed from broken promises and not mere fleeting anger—with complete silence could damage the Saudi league's image as an investment destination on a global scale. Foreign investors and sponsors always seek an environment characterized by transparency and clear governance. He emphasized that allowing this crisis to dominate international headlines without an official explanation opens the door to interpretations that could negatively impact the recent gains made by Saudi sports.
Urgent demand: Investigation committee and disclosure of figures
Al-Hababi concluded his remarks with a clear demand for the formation of an independent and completely transparent investigative committee to issue a detailed report revealing to the public the figures for financial support provided to all clubs without exception. He stressed the necessity of holding accountable those responsible for this administrative and technical deficiency, or even holding Cristiano Ronaldo himself accountable if his transgression is proven. He emphasized that preserving the league's reputation and protecting investor confidence requires demonstrating professionalism through concrete figures and sound governance, far removed from empty slogans.
