Saudi Soccer’s struggle: Is Al-Hilal the Problem?
The Saudi national team’s recent semi-final loss in the Gulf Cup, held in Kuwait, has reignited a long-simmering debate about the team’s performance and its future. The team’s failure to secure a championship as their 2003 Gulf Cup victory – also held in Kuwait – has left fans frustrated and searching for answers.
Adding fuel to the fire is prominent sports critic Adnan Jastiniah, who has squarely placed the blame on Al-Hilal Club. In a scathing assessment, jastiniah declared, “Al-hilal is the disease of Saudi football.”
Jastiniah’s criticism isn’t new. He recently resurfaced an old television interview clip, emphasizing the longevity of his concerns. In the clip, he stated, “What the media people are complaining about today, I have been warning about for years. Al Hilal did not benefit the Saudi team in any way.”
🎤 adnan Jastinia: #Al-Hilal is the disease of Saudi football, its championships have been damaged
Including the Saudi national team and our image abroad because of it
I became wrong pic.twitter.com/qm8gH05XVO– Majed al-Alamy 46 (@majed9_999) January 1, 2025
While the Saudi national team has a history of Gulf Cup success, with previous wins in 1994, 2002, and 2003, the recent drought highlights a concerning trend. The current situation mirrors challenges faced by other national teams globally, where club dominance sometimes overshadows national team performance. The debate now centers on whether Al-Hilal’s success is at the expense of the national team’s overall progress and international competitiveness.
The ongoing discussion underscores the complex relationship between club and national team success in international soccer. The Saudi Football Federation will undoubtedly face pressure to address the concerns raised by Jastiniah and other critics, and to find a solution to revitalize the national team’s performance on the world stage.
Prominent sports critic Adnan Jastiniah blames al-Hilal Club for the Saudi national team’s recent struggles.He states,“Al-hilal is the disease of Saudi football” [[None]]. He believes the club’s success has come at the expense of the national team’s progress. [[None]]
Jastiniah has been voicing these concerns for years, as evidenced by an old television interview clip he recently resurfaced. In the clip, he says, “What the media people are complaining about today, I have been warning about for years. Al Hilal did not benefit the Saudi team in any way.” [[None]]
