Saudi Pro League ‘Fans’ Issue Highlighted As 447 Fans Attend a Match in a 38,000-Seater Stadium
When Al-Wehda hosted Al-Khaleej at the 38,000-capacity King Abdulaziz Stadium on Saturday, only 447 fans showed up to watch.
Odion Ighalo scored a hat-trick for Al-Wehda as they ran out 3-1 winners, with Fabio Martins netting a consolation for Al-Khaleej.
The win was Al-Wehda’s sixth this season from their 14 rounds of fixtures. However, only 447 fans attended the match to witness the former Manchester United striker, Odion Ighalo, grab a hat-trick. This left the 38,000-capacity stadium practically empty.
These attendance figures laid bare an issue that could be concerning many observers of the Saudi Pro League. The expectation was that the influx of world-class talent into the SPL could raise the game’s profile and lead to increased attendance.
However, apart from the historically major clubs in the Saudi Pro League, other clubs have not benefitted from a surge in interest and attendance. This has resulted in low attendance in some games outside the big four.
There is optimism that things will pick up. Cristiano Ronaldo, the highest profile player to move to the Saudi Pro League, said, “I have been pleasantly surprised. Foreign players have different qualities. Five, six or seven years from now it will be the fourth or fifth most competitive league in the world if they continue with this same plan. I’m playing, I’m having minutes.”
There is hope that this issue will be addressed gradually and that interest in games such as Al-Wehda vs. Al-Khaleej will attract more fans to the stadium.
