In a stunning revelation, Brazilian coach Cosmin Contra has claimed he warned the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) about critical safety issues at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Abha before a major incident forced the abandonment of a crucial match.
The disaster struck during a King’s Cup quarter-final clash between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal on December 26, 2023. With Al-Ittihad leading 1-0 thanks to a goal from Karim Benzema in the 39th minute, the match was halted in the 52nd minute. A sudden, severe downpour caused significant flooding of the pitch, making conditions unplayable and dangerous for the players.
Contra, who was managing Al-Ittihad at the time, stated he had formally alerted the federation to the stadium’s inadequate drainage system. “I officially informed the Saudi Federation, more than once, about the poor condition of the stadium’s drainage,” Contra said. “I told them that if it rained, a catastrophe would happen, and unfortunately, that is exactly what occurred.”
The match was never resumed. In a subsequent decision, the SAFF awarded the victory to Al-Hilal, allowing them to advance in the competition. This ruling ended Al-Ittihad’s hopes of winning the domestic cup.
Looking ahead, Contra expressed deep concern for Saudi clubs competing in the 2023-2024 AFC Champions League knockout stages, which begin in February 2024. He believes the unresolved infrastructure problems will be a major handicap. “Saudi clubs will suffer in Asia because of the stadiums,” he warned, highlighting that other nations like Japan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan have superior, modern facilities.
Contra’s warning underscores a significant infrastructure challenge as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2026 AFC Asian Cup. The incident has raised serious questions about the readiness of the country’s footballing venues for top-tier continental competition.
