The inclusion of Abdullah Al-Hamdan in Al-Nassr's lineup during the derby match against Al-Ittihad, in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, sparked widespread controversy in Saudi sports circles, especially after Al-Ittihad's management filed an official protest regarding the legality of his participation. In this context, legal expert and sports regulations specialist Yaqoub Al-Mutair intervened to put an end to the speculation and clarify the correct legal position according to the regulations in force at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

In a televised statement on the program "Our League is Different," Yaqoub Al-Mutair confirmed that Abdullah Al-Hamdan's participation in the match held at Al-Awwal Park Stadium was 100% legal and valid. Al-Mutair based his legal opinion on the fact that Al-Nassr Club had officially completed the player's registration procedures in the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Transfer Matching System (TMS) during the permitted winter transfer window, thus making his inclusion in the club's roster entirely legitimate and granting him full eligibility to participate in official matches.

Regarding the controversy surrounding the player's unilateral termination of his contract with his former club, Al-Mutair clarified a crucial point in sports regulations, indicating that the player followed the correct legal procedures by notifying his original club of the contract termination. He added that any legal repercussions or sporting sanctions that might arise from the unilateral termination—should it be proven illegal—will fall solely on the player's personal responsibility and will not affect Al-Nassr Club in any way, provided that the new club did not incite the player to terminate his contract and registered him according to the established official procedures.

Regarding the next steps, the legal expert indicated that Al-Ittihad Club, which filed the protest, is obligated to submit a detailed memorandum outlining the reasons for the protest to the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee within a legal deadline not exceeding 48 hours from the end of the match. He affirmed that Al-Ittihad certainly has specific justifications that prompted this action, but the final decision rests with the relevant committee based on the regulations.

This issue is of paramount importance given the sensitivity of the competition in the Saudi Professional League, where administrative and legal details play a crucial role that rivals the technical performance on the field. Historically, Saudi football has witnessed numerous similar cases that have impacted league standings, making clubs keen to exploit all their legal rights. Matches between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad are always a focal point for fans both locally and across the Arab world, not only for the intense competition on the field but also for the administrative and legal disputes that often accompany these top derbies, adding to the excitement of the competition and heightening anticipation for official decisions.

In a rapid development of events following the summit of the twenty-first round of the Roshan Professional League, Al-Nasr Club issued an indirect but clear response to the protest submitted by the management of Al-Ittihad Club against the legality of the participation of player Abdullah Al-Hamdan in the derby that brought the two teams together on the grounds of Al-Awwal Park Stadium.

Al-Nasr responded via social media platforms

Al-Nassr's media center chose the "X" platform (formerly Twitter) to deliver its message, posting a picture of young striker Abdullah Al-Hamdan with a concise but confident caption: "Al-Hamdan's first appearance." Fans and observers considered this post the first practical response to the administrative moves made by Al-Ittihad in recent hours, thus confirming the validity of the registration and participation procedures for the newly transferred player.

Participation details and results

Abdullah Al-Hamdan made his debut for Al-Nassr in the final minutes of the thrilling match, following his controversial transfer from arch-rivals Al-Hilal. The game ended in a valuable 2-0 victory for Al-Nassr, a result that strengthened their position in the league standings and kept them in the hunt for the top spot, Al-Hilal. This made the three points crucial and unacceptable, even if it meant resorting to administrative protests.

The context of competition and the importance of regulations

This incident comes amidst the fierce historical rivalry between Saudi football giants Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad, a competition that extends beyond the pitch to encompass administrative and legal matters. Player eligibility issues are particularly sensitive in the Saudi league, with clubs typically scrutinizing regulations meticulously before registering any new player, especially for major matches.

Al-Hamdan's transfer from Al-Hilal to Al-Nassr is itself a significant event in the transfer market, given the player's technical value as a young international talent and the nature of the rivalry between Riyadh's clubs. Al-Nassr's confident response indicates that the club's management fulfilled all legal requirements for registering the player and that his participation was fully compliant with the regulations of the Professionalism and Players' Status Committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. This reduces the likelihood of the Federation's protest being accepted, either procedurally or substantively, according to initial assessments of the legal situation.

In an incident that raised many questions in Saudi sports circles, Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, manager of Al-Nassr, was absent from the post-match press conference following the fiery derby against Al-Ittihad. This absence came after the match between the two teams at Al-Awwal Park Stadium, part of the eleventh round of the Saudi Professional League, marking his second consecutive absence from official media appearances.

Sources revealed that the main reason behind Jorge Jesus's absence from the pre-match press conference for the Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad game was an administrative decision by the club's management, coupled with the coach's show of solidarity with the team's captain, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo. This solidarity serves as a clear message expressing dissatisfaction with the team's performance during the last winter transfer window and the accompanying challenges that impacted the strategy for strengthening the squad to compete for domestic and continental titles.

In terms of both result and performance, Al-Nassr successfully overcame Al-Ittihad with distinction, securing a 2-0 victory. The match was characterized by technical and tactical dominance, reflecting the team's readiness for this major encounter, considered one of the most important matches of the season in Saudi football, given the intense historical and popular rivalry between the two clubs.

Matches between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad are of paramount importance not only locally but also regionally, attracting widespread attention due to the caliber of the stars on both teams. This victory strengthens Al-Nassr's position in the standings, bringing their points tally to 49 in the Roshan Professional League this season and marking their second consecutive win. This provides a significant morale boost for the players and coaching staff as they continue their pursuit of the top spot.

It is worth noting that press conferences in the Roshan League have gained unprecedented global attention, in light of the qualitative shift that Saudi sports are witnessing, which makes the absence of a figure of the stature of coach Jesus an event that requires pausing to consider and analyzing its implications regarding the relationship between the technical management and the circumstances surrounding the team.