In an unexpected turn of events, the friendly match between Al-Ittihad and Portuguese club Farense was called off on
Wednesday evening. The decision came after a brawl broke out among players, followed by a fan rush behind
the reserve benches, compelling the referee to blow the final whistle prematurely at the 87th minute.
The disorder erupted at the São Luís Stadium in Faro, Portugal, around the 82nd minute, following Farense’s third goal,
which put them ahead 3-1. The incident began with a heated confrontation between players from
both teams over a foul committed near the midfield circle. The situation quickly escalated, prompting security
personnel to intervene to calm the agitated Portuguese fans. However, the referee deemed it unsafe to continue
and decided to end the match.
Before the abrupt conclusion, the referee issued a red card to Al-Ittihad’s midfielder Farah Al-Shamrani for
striking a Farense player. As tensions rose, groups of Farense supporters charged towards the Al-Ittihad bench, attempting to
engage with the players, who vacated their seats to avoid confrontation.
The first half had ended with Al-Ittihad leading 1-0, thanks to a goal by striker Karim Benzema, assisted by fellow
Frenchman Moussa Diaby. However, the second half saw Farense net three goals before the match was halted.
In a statement, Al-Ittihad’s CEO, Domingos Oliveira, announced an internal review of the events surrounding
the match to determine further actions. Oliveira assured fans that all team members were safe and had returned to
their accommodation in the Algarve region.
Al-Ittihad, coached by French manager Laurent Blanc, has been undergoing pre-season preparations, including
a recent camp in Spain.
The team has faced Elche and Sevilla in previous friendlies, losing both matches 0-2 and 0-1, respectively.
Al-Ittihad’s pre-season schedule continues with upcoming games against Real Betis and Inter Milan before returning to Jeddah.
This incident underscores the importance of maintaining composure and sportsmanship, even in competitive
pre-season matches. Both clubs and their fans will undoubtedly reflect on the events and strive for better discipline in the future.
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