Saudi league postpones three matches following Houthi escalation
The Saudi Arabian football league has postponed three upcoming fixtures, including a high-profile match involving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, following a sudden escalation in the country’s military conflict with the Houthis.
Saudi Professional League Reschedules Matchweek Nine Fixtures
League organizers pushed back the matchweek nine fixtures due to logistical considerations and the mandatory minimum rest period between matches, according to an official statement published on the Saudi Professional League website. The league confirmed that the remaining fixtures for matchweek nine will proceed according to the previously announced schedule without any changes.
The fixture adjustments affect several key matchups across the league table. The contest between league leaders Al Hilal and Al Riyadh, alongside the meeting between Al Ittihad and Al Shabab, has been moved to December 19. Meanwhile, the clash between Al Ahli and Al Nassr has been pushed deep into the calendar, with a rescheduled date of March 6, 2027.
Regional Security Disruptions Impacting Fixtures
The schedule changes arrive on the heels of renewed violence across the kingdom. On Monday, Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League match against Uzbek side Neftchi Fergana in Riyadh was delayed by an hour. The delay occurred after the Saudi-led coalition announced it had intercepted a missile fired by the Houthis toward the capital city.
Recent days have seen a violent military escalation between the Saudi-led coalition and Yemen’s Houthis, resulting in missile strikes targeting airports and critical energy infrastructure throughout the kingdom. The current round of fighting follows a weekend strike by the Houthis on Riyadh’s international airport that killed 13 people and forced the temporary suspension of operations in what marks the worst attack since 2015.
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