Sami Al-Jaber: Increasing the number of foreign players in the Roshan League is killing the Saudi player
Al-Hilal and Saudi football legend, Captain Sami Al-Jaber, issued strong warnings regarding the news circulating about the Saudi Football Federation and the Professional League’s intention to increase the number of foreign players in the Saudi Professional League to 10 players starting from next season, describing this step as a “coup de grâce” that will kill the ambition of the local player.
Fiery statements and fears for the future
Speaking on the "Our Club" program hosted by journalist Abdulrahman Al-Humaidi, Al-Jaber emphasized that the current situation for Saudi players is extremely difficult, even with the current number of foreign professionals. He explained that local players struggle daily in training to secure even a few minutes of playing time with their clubs. He further clarified that increasing the number of foreign players to 10 would effectively mean that each team would field only one local player (usually a goalkeeper or defender), leading to the complete marginalization of national talent and exacerbating the lack of experience and exposure.
General context: Between league ambitions and the national team's interests
Al-Jaber's statements come at a time when the Saudi league is undergoing a historic transformation, attracting some of the world's brightest stars as part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to make it one of the best leagues globally. However, experts believe this qualitative leap must be balanced between global marketing and developing the national team's human resources. While increasing the number of foreign players may raise the level of competition and excitement in the league, it also presents the Saudi national team coach with a real dilemma: the scarcity of internationally-ready players. This could negatively impact the Green Falcons' performance in continental competitions and World Cup qualifiers.
Comparison with the European model
Al-Jaber cited European experiences to illustrate his point, noting that the situation in Saudi Arabia differs radically from that in Europe. He said, “In major leagues like the English Premier League, we see clubs like Liverpool sometimes playing with only one English player, but there is a comprehensive professional system, academies that continuously produce talent, and an open transfer market that allows local players to play in other leagues, while Saudi players currently do not have the same opportunities to play professionally abroad.”.
A call for patience and study
Al-Jaber concluded his remarks by stressing the need to avoid making such fateful decisions hastily, calling for specialized workshops and thorough technical studies involving all parties within the sports system to ensure that any future changes will benefit the development of Saudi football and not the opposite, while preserving the identity and strength of the national team.
