The Saudi Pro League recorded humiliating attendance figures as simply 264 folks turned as much as watch a match.
Mid-table facet Al-Riyadh welcomed backside of the desk Al-Hazm on the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium final week (November 30). It was a uninteresting affair between two struggling sides, ending 0-0 with little to notice when it comes to high quality.
And much more dire was the scenario within the stands, with nearly all of the 22,188-seater floor left empty. In truth, simply 264 folks turned up, leaving a sea of blue seats on show.
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While it may very well be seen as a humiliating new low for a league which has tried to launch a brand new daybreak by signing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar, it was not the bottom Saudi Pro League attendance of the season.
That got here in one other Al-Riyadh dwelling fixture on September 1 – the place they misplaced 1-0 to Al-Okhdood. On that event, they mustered up a measly 133 followers.
(Image: AFP through Getty Images)
For comparability, League Two facet Forest Green Rovers have the bottom common attendance of any membership within the English Football League with 2,103 this time period. Their lowest tally was 709 in a recreation towards Shrewsbury, whereas Bradford City have averaged a stellar 17,694.
Thursday’s battle to fill seats demonstrates the large gulf between the 4 PIF-owned golf equipment – who’ve splashed out on large names – and the standard possessed by the remainder of the league. The highest attendance determine of the season belongs to Neymar’s Al-Hilal with 59,600, whereas the league common of 8,634 is skewed dramatically by the larger sides’ matches.
It comes regardless of excessive profile summer season signing Riyad Mahrez of Al-Ahli beforehand claiming he “hears and sees” the followers. The former Manchester City Treble winner repeatedly performed in entrance of over 50,000 adoring supporters on the Etihad.
Meanwhile, England midfielder Jordan Henderson had simply 976 followers watch him play for Al-Ettifaq towards Abha at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium early within the season. It got here regardless of Henderson claiming his resolution to flock to Saudi was not financially motivated.