Riyadh, January 16: King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on Saturday removed Prince Sultan Bin Fahd as president of the Saudi Football Federation and appointed his deputy Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal Bin Fahd in his place.
The decision followed the three-time champions being unceremoniously dumped out of the Asian Cup Friday in Qatar, becoming the first team to exit the tournament.
The Prince was relieved of his post as president of General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW), which includes running the football federation as well as the country’s Olympic committee, according to a statement on the Saudi state news agency SPA.?“We have removed Prince Sultan according to his request,” the royal statement said.?“He is replaced and we announce that Prince Nawaf is taking over.”
In his first statement as president, Prince Nawaf thanked King Abdullah for his confidence, promising to develop the organization, which was created in 1959.
The Saudi national football team came under fire following its 2-1 defeat by outsiders Syria and then its 1-0 loss to surprise package Jordan, leaving Saudi Arabia bottom of Group B with no points and out of the championships with one more game to go, against Japan on Monday. Furious Saudi fans booed the team off the pitch at the Al-Rayyan Stadium Friday, with particular vitriol directed at hapless goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah, who was at fault for the Jordan goal.
– Agencies __