Kingdom’s football authorities to consider raising number of foreign players at Saudi Professional League clubs

Al-Hilal's Bafetimbi Gomis has been one of the SPL's most successful foreign imports. (Basheer Saleh)
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Updated 12 January 2022
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Kingdom’s football authorities to consider raising number of foreign players at Saudi Professional League clubs

  • SPL clubs are currently allowed to register up to seven overseas players, and that could rise to eight

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation will hold a meeting with the heads of the country’s top tier league clubs in Riyadh next Tuesday to discuss increasing the number of foreign players allowed on their books in the coming seasons.

Saudi Professional League clubs are currently allowed to register up to seven overseas players, and the Federation is considering raising that to eight when it meets the clubs and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SPL next week.

Last November, Arabic sports daily Arriyadiyah reported that that the SAFF and the SPL were in discussions about allowing eight foreign players to be named in starting line-up, or seven, plus one on the substitute’s bench, as was last allowed in 2019.


Saudi boxing’s inaugural ‘Kingdom’s Belt’ Championship crowns winners in Riyadh

Updated 08 February 2026
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Saudi boxing’s inaugural ‘Kingdom’s Belt’ Championship crowns winners in Riyadh

  • Record participation of 246 fighters highlights growing momentum of boxing across the Kingdom

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Boxing Federation staged its inaugural “Kingdom’s Belt” Championship in Riyadh this week, with champions crowned on Saturday after four days of competition.

Held at the Mike Tyson Club in Boulevard City, the tournament featured 246 male and female fighters representing 46 clubs from across the Kingdom — the largest turnout for a domestic boxing championship organized by the federation.

Athletes qualified through regional tournaments, setting up national-level competition across multiple weight divisions in both men’s and women’s categories.

The championship formed part of the federation’s official calendar and was run under technical and administrative supervision, with bouts conducted in line with approved regulations and officiating standards.

Fighters progressed through preliminary rounds and semifinals before Saturday’s finals, where winners received the Kingdom’s belts during the closing ceremony.

The event showcased competitive matchups across divisions and highlighted the continued growth of organized boxing in Saudi Arabia.

Federation officials said the tournament represents an important addition to the domestic calendar, offering athletes a structured pathway to compete nationally while supporting efforts to develop the sport across the Kingdom.