RIYADH: Holders Al-Hilal will be banned from the 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup if they qualify after withdrawing from this season’s four-team competition, the Saudi Arabia Football Federation’s (SAFF) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said on Tuesday.
The decision came after Al-Hilal pulled out of the Super Cup, scheduled to be played from August 19-23 in Hong Kong, citing player fatigue following their Club World Cup campaign. They lost 2-1 to Fluminense in the quarter-finals on July 4.
“Al-Hilal refused to participate in the Saudi Super Cup for the 2025-2026 season after the official schedule for the competition was issued,” the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said in a statement.
“As a result, the committee ruled that Al-Hilal had violated Article (59-3) of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations and fined the club 500,000 Saudi Riyals ($133,000) to be paid to the SAFF,” the statement added.
In addition to the fine, the club was banned from participating in the 2026-27 Super Cup and stripped of any financial awards allocated for this season’s competition.
The committee said the decision is subject to appeal.
Al-Hilal have been asked for comment.
They won the Super Cup by beating Al-Nassr last season for a record-extending fifth title.
The Saudi Super Cup is contested by the winners and runners-up of the King’s Cup and Saudi Pro League. Al-Hilal finished second in the 2024-25 Pro League behind Al-Ittihad.
Al-Hilal, who were due to face King’s Cup runners-up Al-Qadsiah in the Super Cup semifinals on August 20, have been replaced by AFC Champions League winners Al-Ahli.
Since Al-Ittihad won the Pro League and King’s Cup, the extra Super Cup spot was awarded to Al-Nassr — the third-placed team in the league — who they face in the semis on August 19.
