Despite The Saudi Professional League’s significant investment in high-profile players over the summer, the team has reportedly reached a new low point. 

Earlier this year, Cristiano Ronaldo made headlines as the first prominent European player to join the league when he signed with Al Nassr after he left Manchester United. Since then, several other notable footballers, such as Karim Benzema, Neymar, Riyad Mahrez, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and Demarai Gray, have also opted to move to Saudi Arabia and leave the European football behind.

However, despite the influx of star players, the Saudi Pro League was left humiliated after the last match.

A recent game between Al Riyadh and Al Hazm witnessed an embarrassingly low attendance of just 264 spectators. The match took place at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, which has a maximum capacity of 22,188.

Throughout the lackluster affair that ended in a goalless draw, the stadium was filled with empty blue seats, an indication of the league’s struggle to attract fans. The league’s efforts to attract renowned names from European football don’t seem to have generated any significant interest among local fans.

While the acquisition of notable players can generate initial excitement, the league must foster a sustainable fan culture and create an atmosphere that draws spectators to matches.

Notable figures such as Lionel Messi have expressed reservations about the league’s status. Messi referred to the Saudi league as a potentially important league in the future, but ultimately he opted to play for Miami.

Ultimately, the future of the Saudi Professional League will depend on its ability to cultivate a passionate and devoted fan base that supports the league beyond the allure of individual star players.

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Article by Baila Eve Zisman

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