Saudi Football Documentation Project: Extensive Disputation

Although 47 other clubs accepted the submitted report, the Al-Shabab Club objected to the final results, igniting debate over the Saudi football documentation project. Faris Al-Aliani, the club’s representative, caused much controversy when he abstained from the final voting session and refused to ratify the results, calling it a “public objection.”

Al-Aliani told local media that “this decision has ruined our sporting history, expressing his displeasure. There is no explanation for our move from fourth to fifth place in the Champions League.” In a critical tone, he continued, “Unfortunately, clubs that have no real sporting history are the ones who decide the fate of our championships.”

According to the project’s final report, 3,910 championships have been won in Saudi football history, split between 1,282 first-team and 2,628 youth-group competitions, in which 155 clubs have participated. Following the final approval of the report by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), the clubs will formally announce the number of their championships.

Notably, all other clubs endorsed the project, with Al-Shabab being the only one that did not approve of the outcomes. This calls into question the causes of this disagreement, as well as how it affects the local championships’ historical legitimacy.

The Federation’s Final Decision

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation formally declared that the committee charged with recording the historical accomplishments of Saudi clubs had finished. Since the beginning of football in the Kingdom, the committee has worked to keep track of and list all local championships. This announcement came after much work, including a thorough examination of every sporting event since the turn of the 20th century.

With assistance from the Arab and Asian federations, the votes of the clubs’ general assemblies and specialised teams from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation were combined in a participatory mechanism for the documentation process. This project sought to establish a certified and documented archive of all competitions, with an emphasis on league titles from all of their different historical periods.

Moreover, committee representatives gave a speech at the closing conference, explaining that they had finished the thorough inventory process but kept the specifics of each club’s championship numbers private until the formal announcement. All clubs that participated in the General Assembly approved the final results, which the Saudi Federation will likely make public in the next few days.

This ambitious project provides the first thorough documentation of Saudi football’s legacy, spanning over a century of competitions and championships, covering the years 1902 through the end of 2024.

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Aspects of the League’s Post-Decision Changes

The football documentation project’s final report included fresh information that has changed the Saudi League’s historical balance. After confirming its participation in every tournament since its inception, Al-Ittihad emerged as the most notable beneficiary. With 13 titles, it is currently in second place, ahead of Al-Nassr, which has just 10.

According to the data, Al-Ittihad’s record had improved significantly cutting the distance between them and the league’s historic leader, Al-Hilal, from eight titles to just seven. The previous record was 13 titles for Al-Ittihad and 21 titles for Al-Hilal.

Despite maintaining its lead in the Champions League standings, the project disclosed that Al-Hilal did not compete in every tournament and lost the “First League Champion” title it had previously held. However, Al-Ahli was one of the biggest winners, rising to fourth place with nine titles, only a step behind its long-time rival, Al-Nassr. With Al-Ahli gaining ground and threatening its place in the rankings, Al-Nassr experienced a setback after losing its historic runner-up position. The biggest shock was when Al-Shabab fell from third to fifth place with just six titles, thus avoiding any real competition for the top spots.

Furthermore, the project helped Al-Wehda regain its reputation and validated its historic leadership as the first Saudi League champion and the first King’s Cup winner in 1966. Despite the club’s modest title record compared to other major clubs, this earned it a special place in the history of Saudi football.

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