AS Roma's management has taken a decisive and historic step towards realizing its long-awaited dream of owning its own stadium, having submitted the necessary documents and feasibility studies for the project to the relevant authorities. This paves the way for initiating the process of moving out of the historic Stadio Olimpico. Media reports indicate that the estimated cost of the project will exceed one billion pounds sterling, making it one of the largest sporting projects in the history of Italian and European football.

American leadership and investment vision

According to talkSport, this massive project is being spearheaded by the American Friedkin Group, owners of AS Roma and Everton. The group is building on its recent success in England, where it relocated Everton to its new stadium, Dickinson Hill, ending a 133-year reign at the iconic Goodison Park. The Friedkin Group aims to replicate this success in the Italian capital, Rome, to solidify the city's position as an independent economic and sporting powerhouse.

The end of the Olimpico era and the move towards Petralata

Roma are planning to leave the Stadio Olimpico, an iconic Italian stadium currently owned by the city and shared with their city rivals Lazio. Despite its history and having hosted the 1990 World Cup and the 1960 Olympic Games, the current stadium suffers from a running track that separates fans from the pitch, diminishing the atmosphere compared to modern English and German stadiums. The planned new stadium, located in the strategic Petralata district of Rome, is expected to have a capacity of approximately 62,000, a carefully calculated figure designed to balance a large crowd with an optimal viewing experience, compared to the Olimpico's 70,634 seats.

Sustainable design and economic dimensions

The new stadium's design has been meticulously crafted, prioritizing environmental sustainability and a forward-looking vision to create a facility that not only hosts matches but also reflects the club's history and the passion of its fans, particularly the iconic Curva Sud. The plans are expected to undergo thorough review by city council committees in early 2026 before receiving final approval to begin construction.

The project's importance for the future of Italian football

This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance the club's infrastructure and dramatically increase its commercial resources. Italian clubs generally suffer from lower financial returns compared to their Premier League counterparts, partly due to not owning their own stadiums. With this project, Roma aims to follow in the footsteps of Juventus and Atalanta, acquiring a real estate asset that generates sustainable revenue seven days a week through shops, restaurants, and museums attached to the stadium. If things proceed according to schedule, the next decade could see the opening of a world-class sporting complex that would elevate Roma to the ranks of Europe's elite clubs, a historic transformation combining sporting heritage with commercial development.

The Saudi Professional League continues to cement its position as one of the most exciting and high-scoring leagues in the world. This season has witnessed a remarkable phenomenon: 10 hat-tricks were recorded in just the first 22 rounds. This number reflects more than just goals scored; it's a strong indicator of the attacking prowess and diverse tactical approaches employed by the clubs, intensifying the competition and enhancing the enjoyment of the football for the fans.

Context of the historical development of the Saudi League

This goal-scoring explosion was no coincidence; it's a natural consequence of the qualitative leap Saudi football has witnessed in recent years. Since the launch of the investment and privatization project, and the attraction of some of the world's best players, the league has transformed from a local competition into a global arena teeming with talent. Historically, scoring a hat-trick was a rare occurrence in previous seasons, but with the rising technical quality of both foreign and local players, and the evolution of coaches' tactical approaches towards total attacking play, hat-tricks have become a frequent occurrence, reflecting the technical differences and high individual abilities of the stars.

The golden trio: Benzema, Felix, and Toni

At the forefront of the scene, three international stars stole the spotlight by achieving a "hat trick" twice each, namely:

• Karim Benzema (The Exceptional Phenomenon): The French star had a historic season, scoring a hat-trick in two different jerseys; the first with Al-Ittihad against Al-Kholoud, and the second with Al-Hilal against Al-Akhdoud, proving that he is a rare talent capable of scoring regardless of the circumstances or the jerseys.
• Joao Felix (Al-Nasr Machine): The Portuguese proved to be a winning deal for Al-Nasr, scoring two hat-tricks against Al-Fateh and Al-Taawon, confirming his decisive role in big matches and his ability to compensate for absences and make a difference.
• Ivan Toni (Al-Ahli's sniper): The Englishman confirmed his high quality with Al-Raed, by scoring hat-tricks against Al-Khaleej and Al-Ettifaq, taking advantage of his enormous physical strength and his goal-scoring sense inside the box.

The circle of brilliance widens and the names diversify

The hat-trick celebrations were not limited to top-tier stars only, but the list included other names that contributed to enriching the league, confirming the depth of the squads in various clubs:

• Roger Martinez: Led Al-Taawoun to a resounding victory against Al-Riyadh.
• Carlos Junior: He continued his scoring streak with Al-Shabab against Al-Hazm.
• Julian Kenonis: He excelled with Al-Qadisiyah with a hat-trick against Al-Fayha.
• Joshua King: He made his mark in the Gulf jersey.

Importance and expected impact

The fact that the number of hat-tricks has reached 10 at this point in the season carries profound implications that extend far beyond the pitch. From a technical standpoint, it indicates a higher tempo and more open play, reducing the prevalence of overly defensive formations. From a marketing and media perspective, this goal-scoring spree enhances the league's appeal to viewers worldwide and boosts the value of television broadcasting rights, as fans are always looking for goals and excitement. Furthermore, this competitive environment elevates the level of local players who gain daily exposure to such international experience, which will positively impact the Saudi national team's performance in upcoming international competitions.

In a bold and passionate media piece dedicated to the achievements of Saudi sports, writer Faisal Al-Bunyan addressed the sensitive issue of delayed resolution of complaints and cases in the sports world, using the recent case of Al-Hilal Club as a stark example of the urgent need for swift justice. In his article, Al-Bunyan emphasized that Al-Hilal, this prestigious institution, is not seeking special treatment or preferential treatment, but rather fairness in the face of the recent campaigns of doubt targeting it.

The context of the event and Al-Hilal's historical standing mean
that the club cannot be viewed as a mere name in the annals of Saudi or Asian football. It is a comprehensive sporting project built over decades of diligent institutional work, solidified through continental and global achievements that have placed Saudi football on the international map. Al-Hilal, managed with a professional mindset that avoids unbridled fan passion, now finds itself facing challenges unrelated to on-field competition, but rather peripheral battles that threaten its reputation and prestige.

Al-Bunyan pointed out in his speech that the insults and insinuations made in recent weeks, which were attributed to the coach of the rival team, “Jesus” - according to what was stated in the article - did not fall under the category of legitimate technical criticism that is usual between coaches, but rather went beyond that to reach the point of questioning the internal decision of the club and brandishing dangerous terms such as “political power”, which is considered a deliberate damage to the reputation of a team the size of Al-Hilal and a transgression that strikes at the heart of the fairness of competition.

The importance of decisive action and its impact on the Saudi sports scene:
This issue gains added significance in light of the major transformations taking place in the sports sector in Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030. The Saudi League has become a focus of global attention, attracting the world's top football stars, which places a heavy responsibility on the judicial and disciplinary committees to protect the image of this ambitious project. Delays in resolving official complaints and leaving cases pending could be mistakenly interpreted as negligence or laxity, which is incompatible with the professionalism and transparency that Saudi sports aspire to.

Legitimate demands and a clear message
: Al-Hilal fans, and behind them writer Faisal Al-Bunyan, express urgent questions that cannot be postponed: How long will the silence continue? Is the price of large entities to tolerate abuse? The demand here is not to impose guardianship or request special protection, but rather it is an appeal to apply the regulations strictly, and to send a clear message that when a word crosses the boundaries of opinion and constructive criticism to enter the realm of defamation and doubt, it will be met with legal accountability, whoever says it.

In conclusion, Al-Bunyan emphasized that Al-Hilal's strength does not mean accepting injustice, but rather believing that justice is the highest form of strength. Closing this matter with a decisive and fair decision is a victory for Saudi sports as a whole, ensuring it remains great in its achievements, fair in its decisions, and clear in its stance against any transgression.