Waleed Abdullah watches Al-Nassr on his phone during Al-Diriyah game

Waleed Abdullah attracted widespread attention after being filmed watching Al-Nassr’s match against Al-Riyadh on his mobile phone while his current club, Al-Diriyah, were playing Al-Hazem on Friday.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper was not included in Al-Diriyah’s squad for their Roshn Saudi League meeting with Al-Hazem. His side won the second-round fixture 1-0, with AbdulElah Al-Malki scoring the only goal to secure another three points in the competition.

During the match, photographers captured Abdullah in the stadium stands following the simultaneous game between Al-Nassr and Al-Riyadh on his phone. The image quickly became a talking point among supporters and on social media, given that Al-Diriyah were involved in an important league fixture at the same time.

The moment drew particular interest because of Abdullah’s long association with Al-Nassr. He spent many years with the club, known as “Al-Alami”, and won several trophies during his time there before moving to Al-Diriyah to begin a new chapter in his career.

A post sharing the footage was captioned: “From Waleed Abdullah watching Al-Nassr’s match during Al-Hazem v Al-Diriyah.”

The goalkeeper’s actions divided opinion among supporters. Some felt it was understandable for him to follow Al-Nassr because of his lengthy history with the club and the connection he had built there over many seasons. Others argued that, as a player now representing Al-Diriyah, his attention should have been focused on his current team, even though he was not part of the matchday squad.

The debate continued online, with the incident becoming one of the most discussed images from the second round of the Roshn Saudi League. Abdullah’s long-standing link with Al-Nassr had made the scene more significant than an ordinary moment involving a substitute or an injured player watching another fixture.

However, the goalkeeper’s decision did not affect the outcome at Al-Diriyah’s match. His team secured a narrow victory over Al-Hazem thanks to Al-Malki’s goal, collecting a valuable three points from the second round.

The episode ultimately highlighted the contrast between Abdullah’s past and present: his years with Al-Nassr on one side and his current role at Al-Diriyah on the other. For some supporters, the footage showed only a former player keeping an eye on a club that remains important to him. For others, it raised questions about where his loyalties now lie.

That combination of nostalgia and current responsibility turned a brief scene in the stands into one of the round’s most debated football moments.