The match between Neom and Damac in the Roshan League has been rescheduled: the new time and the reason
The Saudi Pro League announced in an official statement an emergency change to the kickoff time of the highly anticipated match between Neom and Damac, which is part of the 19th round of the Saudi Pro League. The match will now be held tomorrow evening, Friday, at King Khalid Sports City Stadium in Tabuk, with a different kickoff time.
New date and details of the decision
According to the statement issued by the league, the match has been postponed to 8:30 PM instead of the previously scheduled 6:50 PM. This change comes in response to unforeseen circumstances faced by the Damac FC delegation, namely the postponement of their flight by the airline, which necessitated logistical intervention to ensure the team's arrival and adequate rest before the match.
Logistical challenges and the Kingdom's geography
This decision highlights the logistical challenges that clubs in Saudi Arabia may face due to the country's vast geographical expanse. The match pits NEOM, based in the northwest of the Kingdom, against Damac, who hail from Khamis Mushait in the south – a distance that necessitates a relatively long flight compared to normal travel. The league deserves credit for its flexibility in dealing with such unforeseen circumstances to ensure that no team is negatively impacted by factors beyond its control.
Standards of professionalism and competitive fairness
The Saudi Pro League confirmed in its statement its keenness on continuous and effective coordination with the relevant club administrations. This measure reflects the League's commitment to applying the highest international organizational standards, as providing sufficient time for the visiting team to arrive, warm up, and prepare mentally and physically is an integral part of the principle of "equal opportunities" and competitive fairness that the competition seeks to establish, especially in light of the tremendous development witnessed by the sports sector in the Kingdom and the global attention the league receives.
The importance of the match and the fans' experience
This match holds particular importance in the context of Matchday 19, as both teams strive for a positive result to improve their standings. The statement also indicated that the time change takes into account the fans' experience, ensuring they can attend and follow the match under ideal conditions. King Khalid Sports City in Tabuk is a major venue for sporting events in the region, and a large crowd is expected, eager to witness a high level of football.
