Royal News

Tag: saudi Arabia

  • Saudi’s Al Hilal offers Messi $350m, more than Ronaldo’s

    Saudi’s Al Hilal offers Messi $350m, more than Ronaldo’s


    Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal are ready to rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr by offering Lionel Messi a mouthwatering deal of up to $350 million a year, according to reports.

    Messi, a Paris Saint Germain player, has his contract expiring in the summer making him a free agent in less than six months.

    Ѕраіn’ѕ Мundо Dероrtіvо rероrted Тhurѕdау thаt thе Ѕаudі gіаntѕ arе offering tо рау Меѕѕі fоr а mоvе rіght nоw іn Јаnuаrу, between UЅ $300 mіllіоn аnd UЅ $350 mіllіоn а уеаr.

    Меѕѕі’ѕ РЅG соntrасt ехріrеѕ аt thе еnd оf thе рrеѕеnt ѕеаѕоn оn Јunе 30, but thе Ѕаudі Giants аrе wіllіng tо рау hіѕ trаnѕfеr fее tо hаvе hіm nоw tо fіght thеіr rіvаlѕ Аl Nаѕѕr іn thе Ѕаudі Lеаguе аnd tо рlау fоr thеm іn thе Сlub Wоrld Сuр ѕсhеdulеd fоr Fеbruаrу.

    According to ForbesSport, contrary to widespread claims, Messi has not agreed to renew terms at the Parc des Princes according to L’Equipe, which gives hope to parties such as Inter Miami and former club FC Barcelona.

    Portugal star Ronaldo had joined Al Hilal’s rival Al Nassr on a two-year contract in a deal worth €200m per year with commercial benefits included.

    The 37-year-old Portugal captain was a free agent after leaving Manchester United following a controversial interview in which he criticised the club.

    Al Nassr, nine-time Saudi Pro League champions, described the signing of former Real Madrid star as “history in the making”.

    The development around Al Hilal’s offer to Messi is looking more real as Saudi Arabia is currently preparing a bid to host the 2030 World Cup alongside Greece and Egypt, and having two of the greatest footballers of all time starring in their domestic league will swing heavily in their favor.

    ForbesSport also gathered Messi is no stranger to Saudi Arabia after becoming an ambassador for the Kingdom’s ‘Visit Saudi’ tourism campaign in 2022.

    Later this month, he will also travel there to play for PSG against Al Nassr in a friendly and Al Hilal could take advantage of the opportunity to make him a concrete proposal.

  • Saudi Arabia’s king declares public holiday after victory against Argentina

    Saudi Arabia’s king declares public holiday after victory against Argentina

    King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has announced a public holiday in Saudi Arabia after the nation’s historic victory over Argentina at the World Cup on Tuesday, November 22.

    The Saudi Arabian national team caused one of the biggest upsets at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar by defeating Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2 – 1 in the opening game of the tournament. The win for Saudi Arabia means Argentina’s 36-match winning streak has been broken.

    In response to the result, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman announced all employees and students in the Middle Eastern country will get Wednesday off.

    A statement from the king read: “It is directed that tomorrow, Wednesday, be a holiday for all employees in all sectors of the state and the private sector, and male and female students in all educational stages.

    “The directive came in agreement with what was proposed by his highness on the occasion of the Saudi national team’s victory over the Argentina national team in the World Cup.”

    Saudi Arabia boss Herve Renard, who managed Cambridge United in 2004, said the ‘stars aligned’ for his team in Qatar.

    “They came here without losing in 36 games, they are South American champions, they have amazing players but this is football, sometimes completely crazy things can happen,” Renard said post-match.

    “Tactically we were not good in the first half. If we’d conceded a second goal, I think the game was finished, and at half-time I was not happy because our pressure and determination was not good.

    “But today all the stars in the sky aligned for us. Everything can happen in football – sometimes your opponent is not at their best. Imagine that for Lionel Messi to play against Saudi Arabia, you know the motivation is not like you are playing Brazil, this is normal.

    “We made history that will stay in Saudi football forever, but we still need to look forward – we still have two games that are very difficult for us.

    “With three games you can win the first game and not qualify, and you can lose the first game and be world champions as Argentina. It’s possible.”

  • Saudis hail their heroes after “historic victory” over Argentina

    Saudis hail their heroes after “historic victory” over Argentina


    Saudi Arabia’s sensational 2-1 victory over Argentina on Tuesday at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has sparked euphoria in the Islamic kingdom.

    Saudi media on Tuesday labelled one of the tournament’s greatest ever shocks as a “historic victory” and a “heroes’ fairytale.”

    Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais was particularly praised, with his saves securing the win against the heavy favourites in the Lusail Stadium, north of Doha.

    “A thousand, thousand congratulations, heroes,” wrote Saudi Sports Minister Abdalaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal on Twitter.

    The head of the Saudi entertainment authority, influential sports official Turki Al-Sheikh, gave free entry to three amusement parks to celebrate the victory.

    Supporters of the royal family also tried to exploit the success politically.

    They pointed out that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had not put the team under pressure when receiving them before the World Cup, thus paving the way for success.

    Bin Salman who is the heir to the throne and son of King Salman is the real strongman in Saudi Arabia.

  • JUST IN…..NAHCON allocates 2022 Hajj slots state-by-state

    JUST IN…..NAHCON allocates 2022 Hajj slots state-by-state

    AUTHORITY  of the National Hajj Commission, (NAHCON) has announced the distribution of the 2022 Hajj slots across states of the federation.

     

    ROYAL NEWS reports that NAHCON Chairman, Barr Zikrullah Hassan, stated this during hajj operational meeting with Chief Executives of States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards.

    Zikrullah said Saudi Arabia allocated a total number of 43,008 quotas to Nigeria.  The distribution of Hajj seat followed the approval of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to host one million pilgrims in this year hajj.

    Allocation to other states are as follows:

    Kano—-222

    Katsina—2146

    Kogi —313

    Adamawa—1166

    Kwara —1406

    Lagos—1562

    FCT—1538

    Nasarawa—684

    Sokoto —2404

    Taraba—651

    Zamfara—1303

    Yobe—860

    Oyo—629

    Osun—460

    Ogun —497

    Plateau —824

    Bauchi —1362

    Jigawa—614

    Gombe—1005

    Borno —1195

    Benue—103

    Ekiti—83

    Edo—94

    Ebonyi—51

    Anambra—17

    Armed Forces—239

    NAHCON adopted the 2019 state performance database to arrive at number of pilgrims’ distribution to each state.

     

    For example in 2019, Niger state was allocated 3946 seats but was able to airlifted 3280 pilgrims representing 7.3 percent. Consequently, Niger was allocated 2256 representing the same percent for 2022 hajj.

  • Saudi Arabia is taking women’s football seriously, says coach

    Saudi Arabia is taking women’s football seriously, says coach

    Saudi Arabia is taking women’s football seriously, says coach
    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is establishing women’s football in a serious way, incoming national coach Monika Staab told dpa.

    The responsible officials in the football federation are women who have something to say, Staab said.

    Staab takes over as coach of the first Saudi women’s national team on Wednesday.

    The 62-year-old is a former Bundesliga coach who has worked in Bahrain and Qatar.

    The Saudi Football Federation is firmly behind the project, it’s not that they’re just allowing it to happen, Staab said.

    The German trainer will have to build the national team from scratch.

    Women’s football was banned in Saudi Arabia until a few years ago, and the first championship started in November.

    When Staab trained coaches in the kingdom in 2020, she was pleasantly surprised by the potential of the players.

    “I didn’t expect they would have come this far,” she said.

    She would like to take the new team to their first international match by March.

    Saudi Arabians live according to a particularly conservative interpretation of Islam that curtails women’s rights.

    In recent years, social reforms have seen numerous regulations relaxed.

    Since 2018, women have been allowed to drive cars and attend football matches as spectators.

  • 60, 000 pilgrims approved for 2021 hajj

    60, 000 pilgrims approved for 2021 hajj

    Mohammed bn Salman
    No fewer than 60,000 pilgrims will participate in the 2021 hajj activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ROYAL NEWS reports.

    Saudi Arabia’s Ministry Of Health stated this in a broadcast on Sunday stressing that the figure would include local and foreign pilgrims.

    Although, the 2020 hajj was suspended following the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak but it not yet certain if the 2021 hajj activities would take place.

    The number of pilgrims was reduced in accordance with the COVID-19 protocols as the country usually hosts over two million Muslim faithful to the holy city of Mecca to perform the rites.

    According to the statement, “Only 60,000 Hujjaj will be scheduled to perform Hajj this year which includes local and foreign pilgrims.

    “Those performing Hajj MUST be between the age of 18-60 years of Age. Those performing Hajj MUST be in a good state of health.

    “Those performing Hajj MUST not have been in hospital for any illness within the past 6 months prior to travelling for Hajj. (Proof Is Required).

    “The pilgrims MUST have had both doses of the vaccine with a Vaccination card provided by the individual countries Health Organisation/Hospital/Ministry.