Houthi Attacks Force Saudi Arabia to Postpone Football League Matches

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has postponed three football matches due to escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthis. The league restructured its schedule, taking into account necessary rest periods between games. Matches between the league leaders Al Hilal and Al Riyadh, and Al Ittihad and Al Shabab, have been rescheduled for December 19.

Originally planned for the same week, Al Ahli's clash against Al Nassr has been moved to March 6, 2027. All other fixtures in Matchweek 9 will go ahead as planned. This postponement occurred after an hour-long delay to Al Nassr's AFC Champions League match against Uzbekistan's Neftchi Fergana in Riyadh. The delay followed a claim by the Saudi-led coalition of intercepting a Houthi missile targeting the Saudi capital.

Recent security concerns have risen across the kingdom, with missile strikes reportedly hitting airports and energy facilities. Reports indicate Houthi attacks on Riyadh's international airport killed 13 people, marking the deadliest such incident since 2015. These events have disrupted the domestic football schedule as Saudi Arabia grapples with renewed security challenges.