Waleed Al-Farraj Explains Al-Owais Guard of Honour Before Al Hilal–Al Ittihad Clasico
A pre-match tribute to Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais became one of the most discussed moments surrounding the Al Hilal versus Al Ittihad clasico. The ceremony, held at Kingdom Arena before the two rivals met in the Roshn Saudi League, celebrated Saudi Arabia’s triumph at the Arabian Gulf Cup, known as Gulf 27. But because the event took place at Al Hilal’s home ground and Al-Owais represents the club, some supporters questioned who had arranged it and whether the setting made the honour appear club-specific.
Sports broadcaster Waleed Al-Farraj has now provided an account of how the guard of honour came about. Speaking on his programme Sport with Waleed, he said the proposal originated with Al Hilal, which wanted to recognise Al-Owais in his role as captain of the Saudi national team. The Saudi Arabian Football Federation, he explained, approved the idea before the tribute was staged ahead of the high-profile fixture.
Why was Mohammed Al-Owais honoured?
Al-Owais appeared on the pitch carrying the Gulf 27 trophy before kick-off. Players from both Al Hilal and Al Ittihad formed a guard of honour, marking Saudi Arabia’s latest continental success and its fourth title in the competition’s history. The gesture was intended to celebrate the national team’s achievement, rather than simply to recognise Al Hilal’s goalkeeper.
However, the choice of venue quickly became part of the conversation. The ceremony took place inside the stadium of “Al Zaeem”, Al Hilal’s nickname, just before a match against one of the club’s fiercest domestic rivals. Some fans argued that a national-team celebration should have been organised in a more neutral setting, while others questioned whether it was appropriate for the event to be associated so closely with a player who also represents Al Hilal at club level.
Those concerns were amplified by the intense atmosphere surrounding the clasico. Al Hilal and Al Ittihad are among Saudi football’s most prominent clubs, and meetings between them attract substantial attention from supporters and broadcasters. In that context, a ceremony involving a trophy and players from both sides was always likely to become a talking point beyond its intended purpose.
Al-Farraj’s account of the proposal
Al-Farraj said the Saudi Arabian Football Federation did not initiate the tribute. According to his explanation, Al Hilal first suggested honouring the national team captain after the Gulf Cup victory, and the federation gave its approval. He rejected claims that the ceremony reflected bias, stressing that the recognition was linked to Al-Owais’s national-team role and the country’s achievement.
“It was a proposal from Al Hilal that the captain of the Saudi national team be honoured after the recent crowning as Arabian Gulf Cup winners, and the federation approved it,” Al-Farraj said. “There is no bias in the matter at all.”
The broadcaster also argued that the clasico was a suitable occasion for the recognition because it was one of the season’s most prominent matches and offered the ceremony a large audience. A major fixture can provide a high-profile platform for celebrating a national team achievement, although the same visibility can also invite closer scrutiny over the event’s timing, location and organisers.
Questions over neutrality and football protocol
The debate highlights a familiar challenge in football: national-team honours often involve players who are closely identified with their clubs. When a tribute takes place at a club stadium, supporters may interpret the setting through the lens of rivalry, even when the stated purpose is national recognition. The presence of Al Ittihad players in the guard of honour helped underline that the occasion involved both teams, but it did not entirely prevent questions about why Al Hilal had taken the lead in proposing it.
Some discussion has also focused on Fahad Al-Mufarrej, the current executive director of the Saudi national team, who has a lengthy background in football administration with Al Hilal. That connection has been mentioned as fans examined the circumstances behind the ceremony. However, Al-Farraj’s account identifies Al Hilal as the source of the proposal and does not establish that Al-Mufarrej’s previous association with the club played a part in organising the tribute.
For now, the available explanation is that Al Hilal put forward the idea, the federation approved it, and the ceremony recognised Al-Owais as Saudi Arabia’s national-team captain following the Gulf 27 victory. The discussion illustrates how even a brief pre-match moment can become a wider debate when club loyalties, national pride and football’s biggest fixtures intersect.
Al Hilal win a dramatic clasico
The ceremony was followed by an eventful match. Al Hilal defeated Al Ittihad 3–2 at Kingdom Arena in the eighth round of the Roshn League, adding another dramatic chapter to the rivalry. The result ensured that the football itself remained central to the night, even as the guard of honour continued to generate discussion among supporters.
For fans looking ahead to future fixtures, the match also offered a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in Saudi football. Al Hilal’s victory over Al Ittihad was a significant result, but predictions for upcoming games will depend on factors including form, squad availability and the demands of domestic and continental competition. As the season develops, both clubs will face further tests, while Al-Owais’s role with Al Hilal and the Saudi national team is likely to keep him in the spotlight.
Ultimately, Al-Farraj’s clarification answers the central question about the tribute’s origins, while leaving room for differing views about its setting. The ceremony was presented as a celebration of Saudi Arabia’s Gulf Cup success, not an act of favouritism. Yet the reaction shows why transparency around football honours matters: when a national achievement is recognised on a club stage, clear explanations can help supporters understand the intention behind the gesture.
