RIYADH — The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced Monday that it has officially received a letter from Al Hilal Club confirming the team's withdrawal from the 2025 Saudi Super Cup, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from August 19 to 23. In a statement, SAFF said it will begin taking the necessary steps in accordance with the tournament's regulations and governing statutes through the relevant committees. The matter will be handled under the organizational framework of the Saudi Super Cup, with the Competitions Committee tasked with completing the formal process. Al Hilal's decision comes after the club concluded its season in July following an extended historic run in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. With limited time remaining before the start of the new season, head coach Simone Inzaghi opted to rest the squad, which has not yet begun preseason preparations. SAFF reiterated its commitment to upholding approved regulations and protecting the rights of all parties involved, in line with its statutes ratified by the General Assembly. Sources said that the federation is preparing to invite Al Ahli to replace Al Hilal, pending the club's full readiness to participate. An official decision is expected to follow soon. The same sources confirmed that SAFF has rejected the notion of automatically advancing Al Qadsiah to the final due to the absence of a semifinal opponent, noting that such a scenario would contradict Article 8 of the tournament regulations. According to Article 8, any club withdrawing after the official schedule is announced is considered in violation and will be referred to the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee for review. The withdrawing club may be required to pay financial penalties of up to SR500,000 and compensate for any damages or losses incurred, with SAFF determining the value of the compensation.
