The Disciplinary Committee rejects Al-Ittihad's protest and confirms Al-Nassr's victory in the Clasico

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee issued a decisive ruling ending the controversy surrounding the result of the Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Nassr derby match. The committee rejected Al-Ittihad's official protest regarding the eligibility of player Abdullah Al-Hamdan. This decision upholds the match result as it stood on the field, in the Saudi Professional League.

Details of the Disciplinary Committee's decision

In its statement No. (273/L D/2026) dated February 16, 2026, the committee clarified that it had studied the protest from all its procedural and substantive aspects. The committee confirmed that it had completed all necessary legal procedures, including contacting Al-Nassr Club and the Professionalism and Players' Status Committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, to verify the player's eligibility and ensure his participation complied with the applicable regulations and bylaws.

Based on a careful review of the documents and arguments presented, the committee decided the following:

• First: The protest of Al-Ittihad Club is accepted in form because it was submitted within the legal period and in accordance with the procedures followed.
• Secondly: The protest was rejected on the merits, as no violation was proven in the registration or participation of the player Abdullah Al-Hamdan.
• Third: Confiscating the protest fees in favor of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, in accordance with the regulations in the event that the protest is rejected on objective grounds.
• Fourth: To emphasize that the decision is subject to appeal in accordance with Article (144) of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations.

Background of the conflict and the importance of the decision

This issue is particularly significant given the long-standing rivalry between Saudi football giants Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, whose "Clásico" matches attract widespread public and media attention both locally and regionally. Abdullah Al-Hamdan recently transferred to Al-Nassr from their arch-rivals Al-Hilal during the winter transfer window, making his debut in the "Global" jersey under intense scrutiny from both management and fans.

This decision reflects the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and its judicial committees' commitment to strictly and transparently applying regulations to ensure fair competition in the Roshan League, which has garnered global attention for attracting top international stars. The decision also affirms the integrity of the administrative procedures followed by Saudi clubs in registering players, thus enhancing the legal credibility of the competition.

Expected impact and next steps

By upholding the match result, Al-Nassr retains the points they earned in the encounter, which could have a direct impact on the race for the league title or qualification for Asian championships. Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad's management has the legal right to escalate the matter and file a formal appeal against the decision, in a final attempt to overturn the ruling. This keeps the case legally open until a final verdict is issued by the appeals committee. However, current indications suggest that Al-Nassr and the player are in the right.