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RIYADH: Al-Hilal’s first-team footballers will not play in the 2025/26 edition of the Saudi Super Cup, the club has said, citing contractual obligations on annual leave, and the need to protect players amid a packed calendar.

The main purpose behind the withdrawal “was to ensure the health and readiness of its international players ahead of the national team camp and the rest of the domestic competitions,” said a statement posted on the team’s website on Sunday.

The club described in detail the time needed by players to take time off after the recent Club World Cup.

In addition, if the footballers play in the Super Cup the club would fall foul of the ������Ƶn Football Federation’s rules on annual leave.

Al-Hilal reached the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup, held in the US, including a draw with Real Madrid and a memorable victory over Manchester City.

After the Blue’s exit by Fluminense, the club stated that the “team had to remain in Orlando for three additional days due to flight constraints, which reduced the players’ annual leave to only 24 days in the event of withdrawal, and to 21 days if the club participated in the Super Cup.”

The club added that this “violates clause (5.6) of the mandatory contracts included in the annexes of the Professionalism and Player Status Regulations issued by SAFF.”

The rule “stipulates that players are entitled to a minimum of 28 days of annual leave — a condition already included in all professional player contracts of Al-Hilal’s first team.”

After this, the players’ leave overlapped with the start of pre-season preparations.

“As a result, Al-Hilal was forced to delay the start of its own preparations for the upcoming season, which further increased the competitive imbalance among participating clubs.”

The statement added the club was informed on June 13 that the Saudi Super Cup would be held in Hong Kong.

At this point the Al-Hilal players had already traveled to the US for the club championship, and without knowing how far they would go in the competition.

Al-Hilal has won the Saudi Super Cup five times.

The club stated: “The decision came after a review of the physical and muscular condition of several players, which showed signs of extreme fatigue after a demanding season that lasted a full year and one week.”

The decision would also serve the Saudi national team, which features a number of Al-Hilal players, the statement said.

LONDON: Tyson Fury says Oleksandr Usyk “knows” he is the only fighter who can beat him after the Ukrainian crushed Daniel Dubois to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
Usyk produced an emphatic fifth-round finish against his British opponent at Wembley on Saturday to reclaim the IBF title, further cementing his status as one of boxing’s all-time greats.
The undefeated 38-year-old added the IBF belt to his WBC, WBA and WBO belts when he beat Fury by split decision in Riyadh in May last year before he was forced to vacate his IBF title.
The British boxer retired after he lost to Usyk, again in ������Ƶ, by unanimous decision in December, but he signaled his intention to return to the ring earlier this month.
The “Gypsy King” has angrily questioned the two defeats and remains confident he can get the better of Usyk.
Fury, 36, posted a video of himself on his Instagram account during a run, which was laden with expletives.
“Massive shout-out to Oleksandr Usyk, he said.
“He did a fantastic performance tonight over Daniel Dubois, a good, young, game lad who came for a good tear-up, so congratulations to both men but Oleksandr Usyk knows there is only one man who can beat him.”
“I did it twice before and the world knows it ... I took it like a man.”
He added: “No matter what anyone wants to say, I won ... those fights. Guaranteed, 100 percent. There is only one man. GK (Gypsy King) all day every day. Get up!”
Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, acknowledged a third fight with Usyk would be “big” but reiterated WBO mandatory Joseph Parker is next in line.
“Tyson has made it very clear to me he would love to fight at Wembley and would love to do that fight. And it would be a big fight, I am quite sure of it,” Warren said.
“As a fan, I would like to see the Joe Parker fight. Joe deserves it, he is on a run himself similar to what Daniel was on and that is the fight that has been ordered.
“One way or another it will either happen or Joe will fight for the vacant title.”