The AFC Champions League Elite match between Al Nassr and Neftchi Fergana is hanging by a thread because of the tense security situation in Riyadh. A deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday left at least 12 people dead and 309 injured, marking the third assault by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen in just days. Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, was set to host the Uzbek team Neftchi at Al Awwal Park on Monday, but with the airport targeted, the fate of the game is up in the air. The Asian Football Confederation and both clubs have stayed silent on whether the match will go ahead. Meanwhile, the Saudi Pro League has already postponed a Sunday evening fixture between Abha and Faisaly, citing circumstances beyond the teams’ control. Abha, located about 900 kilometers from Riyadh and close to the Yemen border, saw its game moved to later in the month. It’s still unclear if the Champions League fixtures will face similar disruptions, but four Saudi clubs are involved in matches over the next two days. Al Nassr is the only one playing at home, and Neftchi Fergana, along with around 100 fans, had already traveled to Riyadh via a charter flight. The situation might also impact Al Hilal, who played the ‘Saudi Clasico’ against Al Ittihad on Saturday and won 3-2, but now face a trip to Doha to meet Al Sadd on Tuesday. Other teams like Qadsiah, flying to Tashkent, and Al Ahli, heading to Dubai, could see changes too. With the security climate volatile, football fans are watching closely to see how things unfold.
