Saudi Pro League Postpones Matches
The Saudi Pro League has postponed three Matchweek 9 fixtures, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr clash with Al Ahli, as the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis intensifies.
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The Postponed Matches
Al Hilal vs Al Riyadh and Al Ittihad vs Al Shabab have been moved to December 19, while Al Ahli vs Al Nassr is now set for March 6, 2027. The league said all remaining Matchweek 9 games will go ahead as scheduled.
The Official Reason
In a statement published late Tuesday, the SPL cited “logistical considerations, taking into account the mandatory minimum rest period between matches.” The statement doesn’t mention security, but the timing points to the wider situation.
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The Security Backdrop
On Monday, Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League match against Neftchi Fergana in Riyadh was delayed by an hour after the coalition (the Saudi-led military alliance fighting in Yemen) said it had intercepted a Houthi missile fired toward the capital. The postponements follow renewed fighting that includes cross-border missile and drone attacks and intensified coalition airstrikes in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen. Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi said the last ten days had shattered any notion that the conflict could be contained to Yemen, with several sites in Saudi Arabia targeted.
What It Means For The Title Race
Al Hilal lead the table, and their match against Al Riyadh will now wait until December. The Al Nassr–Al Ahli game is pushed back nearly five months, which will complicate both clubs’ fixture lists.
What To Watch
The league hasn’t announced any further changes. If the security situation worsens, more fixtures could be affected, so check the SPL website for updates.
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