Abdulrahman bin Musaed calls for the cancellation of the third-place match: a football controversy

Prince Abdulrahman bin Musaed, the former president of Al-Hilal Club, sparked a wide-ranging sporting discussion and renewed controversy in football circles after he officially expressed his wish to cancel the third-place match in all football tournaments. This call came in a tweet he posted on his official account on the "X" platform, commenting on the forced cancellation of the match between the Saudi and Emirati national teams to determine third place in the 2025 Arab Cup, due to severe weather conditions and thunderstorms surrounding the stadium.

Public reaction and alternative proposals

Prince Abdulrahman bin Musaed's tweet did not go unnoticed; it garnered significant interaction from Twitter users and sports analysts. One follower suggested an alternative solution that would eliminate the need for this match: determining the third-place finisher based on clear numerical criteria before the tournament begins, such as goal difference across all matches or the total points earned in the group stage and knockout rounds.

Conversely, other Twitter users offered a different perspective, arguing that cancellation might be logical for continental or regional tournaments, but major championships like the World Cup and the Olympic Games should be exempt. They reasoned that an Olympic bronze medal represents a significant national achievement, and that finishing third in the world is a prestigious title fiercely contested by teams. Others pointed out that football's history often only remembers the champion and runner-up, making the third-place match an unnecessary burden.

The history of the "consolation match" and the global controversy

This incident opens the door wide to the historical debate about the usefulness of the so-called "consolation match." Historically, the European Championship (Euro) is the most prominent example in this context, as UEFA decided to abolish the third-place match starting with the 1984 edition, considering that the players' motivation is almost nonexistent after losing the semi-final, in addition to the desire of clubs and national teams to avoid injuries and fatigue in a match that does not affect the title.

On the other hand, FIFA insists on holding this match in the World Cup for reasons primarily related to commercial returns, television broadcasting rights, and the impact of its result on the FIFA World Ranking. However, many experts believe that the psychological state of the players, having lost their dream of reaching the final, makes this match a heavy burden, often lacking the usual competitive enthusiasm, which reinforces Prince Abdulrahman bin Musa'id's point of view.

Artistic and physical effects

From a technical standpoint, coaches believe that canceling this match might actually benefit the players, especially given the congested international calendar and the compressed seasons. Playing an additional match after a demanding season and a condensed tournament could expose star players to serious muscle injuries without any real incentive to compete on the field. The cancellation of the Saudi Arabia-UAE match due to weather confirms that circumstances can sometimes dictate what is best for the players, which might prompt continental federations, such as the Arab or Asian federations, to reconsider their tournament regulations in the future to reduce the number of matches that do not directly impact the title race.