The Saudi Arabian football league (SPL) has postponed three matchweek nine fixtures — including a high-profile clash featuring Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr — in response to the recent intensification of cross-border hostilities with Yemeni Houthi forces.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the SPL cited “logistical considerations, taking into account the mandatory minimum rest period between matches” as the reason for the rescheduling.
The fixtures delayed include the top-of-the-table encounter between league leaders Al Hilal and Al Riyadh, as well as the Al Ittihad versus Al Shabab matchup. Both games have been moved to December 19. The eagerly anticipated Al Ahli against Al Nassr clash, which was set to showcase Ronaldo’s return, has been pushed back to March 6, 2027.
Despite these adjustments, the SPL confirmed that all remaining matchweek nine fixtures will proceed according to their original schedule without further amendments.
The postponements follow a tense period in the region, highlighted by disruptions during Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League fixture against Uzbek club Neftchi Fergana in Riyadh last Monday, which was delayed by one hour after Saudi coalition forces reported intercepting a Houthi-fired missile targeting the capital.
Regional tensions have surged in recent days amid a wave of missile attacks on airports and energy infrastructure throughout Saudi Arabia, underscoring the broader security challenges facing the nation. The latest escalation was sparked by Houthi strikes on Riyadh’s international airport over the weekend, an assault that claimed at least 13 lives and brought air travel to a temporary halt — marking the deadliest incident at the facility since the conflict began in 2015.