By Paul Nicholson
June 18 – The pictures flashed around the world of FIFA president Gianni Infantino sitting majestically between his two new best friends, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia on his right and Valdimir Putin on his left at the opening match of the 2018 World Cup, will have left FIFA’s high paying rightsholders wondering if there is another game in play that they are not part of.
May 23 – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will cover all external debts owed by Saudi Professional League clubs, according to an announcement by The General Sports Authority and Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF).
By Samindra Kunti
May 14 – A World Cup-bound referee who is one of Asian football’s most experienced officials has been placed under investigation in Saudi Arabia after being removed from handling last weekend’s Saudi cup final.
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
May 14 – The political splits in the middle east between Qatar, Iran and their neighbours looks to be spilling over into football in a more formal basis with the creation at the weekend of the South West Asian Football Federation (SWAFF).
By Andrew Warshaw
February 26 – The increasingly hostile Saudi-led diplomatic spat with Qatar, which recently spilled over into football, has taken an unsavoury new twist with the Saudis apparently briefing some German media that the Gulf state could be stripped of hosting the 2022 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – FIFA is reportedly closely monitoring the conduct of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in using football as a political tool against 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar.
By Mark Baber
February 6 – The General Sports Authority (GSA), Saudi Football Federation and the Saudi Telecom Co. (STC) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding by which STC will have the sole rights for transmission of local football matches and the matches of Saudi national team.
January 29 – The AFC’s executive committee has restated its decision that Champions League match-ups between Qatari, Saudi and UAE clubs will be played on a home and away basis despite an ongoing political and economic blockade of Qatar by its neighbours.
January 23 – A ground-breaking agreement between Spanish football and authorities in Saudi Arabia has received a furious rebuke from Spain’s football union which says the arrival of nine Saudi players in La Liga will harm local development and is purely a money-earning exercise.
January 22 – In a ground-breaking agreement between Spanish football and authorities in Saudi Arabia, nine Saudi players will dispute the remainder of the season in La Liga, according to local reports.
If there ever was a snub, then it is this one: Transparencist-in-Chief and FIFA-Almighty Gianni, The Infantino, made a trip recently to see how his flock are faring in the timid December heat of the Middle East. It was a fine trip, with lovely meals, lovely people everywhere and lovely sights to see (sic!).
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – In an unexpected twist, Qatar has offered Kuwait the chance to take over as host nation of the forthcoming Gulf Cup in order to ensure full participation of those eligible to take part, according to unconfirmed local reports.
September 29 – Juan Antonio Pizzi has been unveiled as Saudi Arabia’s new head coach following last week’s departure of previous incumbent and fellow Argentinean Edgardo Bauza.
By Ian Griffiths
November 26 – Rafael Silva scored late on to secure Urawa Red Diamonds the AFC Champions League title on Saturday thanks to a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal which saw the Japanese side seal a 2-1 aggregate success.
By Paul Nicholson
November 10 – The stand-off in the blockade of Qatar by its Gulf neighbours has inevitably dragged the hosting of the 2022 World Cup into the geo-political mix with news that the United Arab Emirates has a plan to attack Qatar’s currency and devalue its economy. Alongside the financial warfare sits a PR offensive designed to destroy confidence in the Qatari economy and change the hosting status of 2022.