10:39 / 21.07.2025

Al-Hilal players refused to participate in the Super Cup match

Recently, one of the most prestigious teams in Saudi Arabia — Al-Hilal club — surprised its fans with an unexpected decision. The club’s press service, through an official statement, announced that they would not participate in the Super Cup. This news caused a great resonance in the football community, writes championat.com.

The reason for such a sharp decision was cited as the physical and psychological fatigue of the players. This year, Al-Hilal participated in the Club World Cup, and due to constant competitions and travels, the main squad players were forced to take a 24-day vacation. If the team had participated in the Super Cup, this rest could have been reduced to 21 days.

In the club's statement, it was especially emphasized that the labor and health of the players should come first. Moreover, in the rules adopted by SAFF regarding the professional skills and status of footballers, this point is clearly stated: each footballer is entitled to at least a 28-day full vacation during the year. The Al-Hilal management based their decision not to participate in the tournament on precisely this requirement.

The refusal to participate this year, as the current Super Cup champions, caused various opinions among fans, experts, and the general public. Many sports analysts assess this decision as correct and justified: when players’ fatigue and risk of injury increase, it is important to pay attention to their health and quality rest.

At the same time, for Al-Hilal, this decision is seen as an opportunity to prepare better for the new season, to fully recover the key players, and to ensure the necessary stability before serious competitions.

In conclusion, Al-Hilal's withdrawal from the Super Cup has become one of the significant events not only in the club's history but also in Saudi football as a whole. Now all football fans are interested in how well the team will recover and what new results it will achieve in the new season.