The legality of Abdullah Al-Hamdan's participation and the federation's protest: A comprehensive analysis
The transfer of international player Abdullah Al-Hamdan from Al-Hilal to Al-Nassr, and his subsequent participation in the derby match against Al-Ittihad, sparked widespread legal controversy in Saudi sports circles. This issue captured the attention of the sporting public, especially after Al-Ittihad's management filed an official protest challenging the player's eligibility, citing specific details regarding the timing of the termination of his previous contract.
Legal opinion: Between contract termination and the professional regulations
In a detailed legal analysis of the situation, legal scholar Dr. Hassan Wadif the procedural dimensions of the case to the Okaz newspaper. The issue revolves around Al-Hamdan's unilateral termination of his contract with Al-Hilal during the winter transfer window, with only six days remaining before its expiration, and without obtaining a waiver from his former club. This action raises fundamental questions about the legitimacy of the reason the player cited.
Dr. Wodeff pointed out that Article 42 of the Professionalism Regulations explicitly prohibits unilateral contract termination during the "competition period," which begins with the first official match and ends with the last match of the season. Therefore, terminating a contract during this period could subject the player to disciplinary action and penalties, unless the termination is for a legitimate and compelling reason, such as prolonged salary delays.
Al-Nasr Club's position and the integrity of the registration procedures
Despite the controversy surrounding the player's departure from his former club, Al-Nassr's legal position appears sound regarding registration and participation procedures. A legal expert confirmed that the Professionalism Committee registered the player in accordance with Article 28 of the regulations, rendering his participation in matches, including the Al-Ittihad game, entirely legal from a procedural standpoint. He added that the player's name was included in the team roster according to Article 31 of the competition regulations, thus protecting his participation from any eligibility-related protests.
The repercussions of the case and its impact on the league standings
the Saudi Professional League standings . The match, held as part of the 21st round at Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, ended with Al-Nassr winning 2-0, bringing their points tally to 49 and strengthening their hold on second place as they continue their pursuit of the league leaders. Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad's points total remained at 34, dropping them to seventh place. This makes the acceptance or rejection of the protest a crucial decision for both teams' season.
Expected scenarios and the decision of the Dispute Resolution Chamber
The legal opinion concludes that Al-Ittihad's protest may not change the match result, given the validity of Al-Nassr's player registration procedures. However, the dispute could take a different turn regarding financial compensation. Al-Hilal is entitled to claim compensation if it is proven that the contract termination was not for legitimate reasons. Al-Nassr may only face disciplinary sanctions if Al-Hilal succeeds in proving that the player was "incited" to terminate his contract, a matter requiring conclusive evidence before the Dispute Resolution Chamber.
