Waleed Al-Faraj on Al-Liwan: Confronting Al-Mudayfer and Khashm Al-Riyal's statements
The episode of the "Liwan" program featuring journalist Abdullah Al-Mudayfer and his controversial guest, Waleed Al-Faraj, was more than just a fleeting television appearance on the Ramadan schedule. It was a media derby that captivated the Saudi sports scene. The encounter, which contrasted Al-Mudayfer's calm and assertive style with Al-Faraj's boisterous and evasive approach, provided ample material for discussion and analysis, extending beyond the television screen to social media platforms, which were ablaze with comments.
Background to the conflict: Two schools of thought in Saudi media
To understand the nature of this encounter, one must consider the broader context of the media landscape. Waleed Al-Faraj represents the "action" and sensationalist school of thought that has transformed sports coverage in the Kingdom for years through his successive programs (from "Al-Jawla" to "Action Ya Dawry" and then "Action with Waleed"), relying on direct confrontation and breaking down traditional barriers. In contrast, Abdullah Al-Mudayfer represents the school of intellectual and investigative dialogue, where the audience is accustomed to seeing his guests in a more revealing and candid setting. Therefore, the most prominent question before the episode was: Will Al-Mudayfer succeed in taming the "monster" of the sports screen?
Between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr: Unraveling the complex of bias
The sensitive issue of perceived bias was never far from the table, with Al-Faraj addressing the accusations with his characteristic boldness. In the interview, Al-Faraj rejected being labeled an enemy of Al-Nassr, describing many of the controversies surrounding him as "fabricated" and part of a systematic campaign demanding his blind allegiance. Conversely, he lavished praise on Al-Hilal, calling it a "great club" that has given Saudi football a global dimension. He pointed out that Al-Hilal's successes often put its rivals under psychological pressure and cause them distress—an analysis some see as factually accurate, while others view it as emotional bias.
"With Real Madrid's nose": The implications and impact of the Ronaldo deal
Perhaps the most talked-about and impactful point of the meeting was Al-Faraj's comment on Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to the Saudi league. His phrase, "He came with the nose of the riyal," was not a mere slip of the tongue, but rather reflected—according to observers—the enormous transformation in the Kingdom's financial and sporting power, and the ability of the Saudi sports project to attract the world's biggest stars. Al-Faraj, in his characteristically sharp tone, affirmed that he would not apologize for this description, considering it an expression of the Saudi negotiator's strength, which aligns with the qualitative leap that Saudi sports are witnessing within the framework of Vision 2030.
Who won the Battle of Liwan?
Opinions were divided on the outcome of this media confrontation. One group believes that Al-Faraj successfully "escaped" Al-Mudayfir's onslaught thanks to his extensive experience in managing on-air crises, turning some embarrassing questions into a platform to reinforce his viewpoints. Another group believes that Al-Mudayfir cleverly allowed his guest ample space to speak at length, enabling him to reveal his convictions with complete clarity and without embellishment, which is considered a success for the interviewer in drawing out his guest's perspective.
In conclusion, the episode did not resolve the controversy surrounding Waleed Al-Faraj’s personality, but perhaps it complicated it further. However, it certainly documented an important stage in the history of Saudi sports media, where talk shows became an integral part of the sports event industry and not just a conduit for it.
