Ali Al-Bulayhi Suspension (October 2024)

Ali Al-Bulayhi, a key defender for Al-Hilal, has been handed a two-match suspension by the Saudi Football Federation’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee following his red card during the King’s Cup final against Al-Nassr. The incident that led to his ejection involved an off-the-ball altercation with Al-Nassr player Sami Al-Najei, which was deemed violent conduct by the match officials.

The suspension includes the automatic one-match ban for receiving a direct red card and an additional match imposed by the disciplinary committee due to the severity of the offense. Al-Hilal was also fined 20,000 SAR for Al-Bulayhi’s actions, and the team faced further sanctions after multiple players were booked during the same game.

Al-Bulayhi’s absence is particularly significant as it comes at a crucial stage of the season, with Al-Hilal preparing for important domestic and international fixtures. His disciplinary issues also led to his exclusion from the Saudi national team’s squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Japan, as head coach Roberto Mancini cited poor form and the player’s current struggles​

This suspension will force Al-Hilal to rely on other defensive options for upcoming matches, including the Saudi Super Cup semi-final against Al-Ahli​