Ahli was Monday declared 3-0 winner of its King's Cup for Champions quarterfinal clash against Al-Shabab after the latter was penalized for fielding a suspended player. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) accepted Ahli's protest against the participation of Abdul Aziz Al-Sa'aran, who had been suspended for six matches by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Shabab had won the tie 2-1. Shabab had sent two weeks before the match a letter to SAFF asking whether the player could take part in the domestic competition. It received a reply signed by Faisal Al-Abdul-Hadi, SAFF secretary general, giving the club the green light for the same. The reply claimed the domestic competitions are different from continental games as the King's Cup is supervised by SAFF, while the Asian Champions League falls under the umbrella of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal, President of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW) and Chairman of the SAFF, had Thursday dismissed Al-Abdul-Hadi from his post. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Sahli, Assistant Secretary General, was named as his replacement.
