Khaled Al-Ghamdi challenges Saudi football election exclusion

Khaled Al-Ghamdi, a disqualified candidate for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation presidency, has initiated legal challenges to contest his exclusion and the validity of the remaining candidate list.

Al-Ghamdi has filed two separate appeals: one seeking to disqualify the list of Badr Al-Ruzayza—the only approved list remaining—and another to overturn his own disqualification. His exclusion was reportedly based on Article 33/2/d of the federation's statutes, specifically regarding English language proficiency requirements and administrative criteria.

The Saudi Sports Arbitration Center has appointed a panel of arbitrators to oversee the case. The panel includes Issa Al-Sulaiti as the lead arbitrator, Sultan Aba Al-Ula representing Al-Ghamdi, and Ahmed Abu Amara representing the Football Federation. Al-Ghamdi is expected to challenge Abu Amara’s appointment, citing potential conflicts of interest due to his previous role as a legal consultant for the federation.

The legal proceedings involve significant costs. Al-Ghamdi has reportedly paid substantial fees for registration, administration, and the formation of the arbitration panel, with total costs for the appeals and arbitration reaching hundreds of thousands of riyals.