Sérgio Conceição clarifies remarks on Saudi football culture

Sérgio Conceição, the former manager of Al Ittihad, has issued a clarification following controversial remarks regarding the professionalism and discipline of local players in Saudi Arabia.

In a recent interview with the Italian outlet ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’ on the ‘La Tripletta’ podcast, Conceição suggested that football in Saudi Arabia is not always treated as a true profession. He noted challenges in managing players who cited family issues or religious obligations, such as early morning prayers, as reasons for missing training sessions. He characterized these difficulties as cultural differences in mentality and work ethic compared to European football standards.

Following a wave of criticism, Conceição released a statement on Instagram to clarify his position. He emphasized that he did not intend to disrespect Saudi players or the Kingdom, expressing great respect for the country that hosted him and his family. He stated that his comments were intended to highlight cultural differences in how football is experienced rather than to question the talent or quality of the local athletes.