Getty Image / Khalid Alhaj / MB Media
The Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) has opened an investigation into the Code of Conduct rules for spectators after an irate soccer fan was filmed literally whipping one of the players in a match last week.
Footage of Al Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah was seen across social media leaving soccer fans aghast as they witnessed an angry and entitled fan whipping the striker who only has 2 goals so far this season.
Whipping! Imagine the complete and utter meltdowns if an American fan was filmed whipping a professional athlete because they were upset about the result of the game. In fact, imagine the meltdowns if an American soccer fan was even seen carrying a whip at a game.
Crazy scenes in Saudi Arabia League, as fan whips a player from Al Ittihad after 4:1 defeat against Al-Hilal in Super Cup!#saudi #alittihad #saudileague pic.twitter.com/wp1KwAZ276
— tether.bet (@tether_bet) April 12, 2024
ESPN reports the incident occurred after Al Ittihad lost to Al Hilal 4-1 in the Saudi Super Cup final in Abu Dhabi. They say that Abderrazak Hamdallah had just thrown water on the angry fan after a heated exchange following his team’s loss. The fan responded to getting doused in water by busting out his whip and whipping the striker who earns $3,433,217 a year.
In a response to the incident, the SAFF and the Football Players Association of Saudi Arabia (PFA) released a statement saying they were “shocked with the disgraceful scenes involving a physical attack by an individual spectator on a member of the team from Al Ittihad Club.”
The statement went on to say “Like all other AFC and wider FIFA member associations, the priority of SAFF is to preserve the safety and enjoyment for everyone who just love watching and playing the game. Football in Saudi Arabia is a family game and thankfully, fan disorder is extremely rare. It’s why the actions of this ‘so called’ fan go against all that Saudi football represent and we completely condemn the incident.”
Despite the match actually not taking place in Saudi Arabia but in the UAE, the statement siad there will be a ‘thorough review’. They wrote “There will be a thorough review of the spectator code of conduct. The review will ensure updated rules and regulations are put in place to swiftly and effectively impose suitable penalties to help avoid any repeat of such incidents.”
Once again I ask, how insane would it be if an American fan was filmed whipping a professional athlete? The leagues might straight up lock fans out forever and raise TV prices a thousand fold. It’s hard to wrap my mind around what the response to an incident would if it happened here in the United States.