The Chairman of the Competitions Committee and former Secretary General of the Saudi Arabian Football Association, Adel Al-Bati, commented on the decision of the Football Association to establish the Saudi Arabia Refreshing Reserve League, which was launched recently with 7 Saudi teams. namely:
Al-Shabaab, Al-Ittifaq, Abha, Al-Fath, Al-Fayha, Al-Tai and Al-Wahda that there will be many difficulties and obstacles, and the solution should have been studied more widely and comprehensively in every respect.
Al-Bati said in an interview with Al-Arabiya TV: The technical committee was supposed to look into several issues in order to make this decision, the most important of which are: financial matters, arbitral tribunals, stadiums and competitions. Al-Bati added: 9 clubs did not agree to play in the tournament, and this in itself is problematic, and they have logical and fundamental reasons, and only 7 clubs agreed. There are more clubs that have abandoned the idea than clubs that have agreed, which is a clear sign that there is a big problem.
Al Bati added: “The reason why nine clubs, including big clubs such as Al Ittihad, Al Hilal and Al Nasr, did not participate is because they are aiming for the championship and participate in all competitions. meets Al Wahdah, flies to Jeddah by plane, then moves to Mecca by bus, and when the match ends, the same thing happens, this is a problem and a big difficulty for the clubs.
And Al-Bati continued: “If I were an official in the Saudi Federation, before making a decision, I would first talk to the clubs and ask their opinions, and then I would talk to foreign experts who had experience in the reserve league or what something similar. and also to talk to the people who worked in the clubs, especially in the matter of travel and transportation.
He added that it was not logical for the reserve league to be under the auspices of the Saudi Federation and the Roshan League to be under the auspices of the League, since it is assumed that all competitions are under the auspices of one side, as is the case in all leagues. .
Al-Batti stated that the player’s participation in the match is less than in the first team matches, it’s not so much the preparation of the player, but the penalty or the like, since the player will not play with the same morale as him. play in the first teams.
On the investment side of the league, Al-Bati said he would not bring in sponsors, as happens in the Saudi Roshan league, because sponsors need a massive presence, marketing aspect and television coverage at the highest level, as it happens. in the youth league and youth category, all of which are important and competitive matches, but with few sponsors. Al-Batti concluded by saying that next season there will be fewer clubs instead of seven due to the complexity of the league in every way.
