Naif Hazazi questions Saudi Arabia’s decision to drop Musab Al-Juwayr from Gulf Cup squad

Former Saudi Arabia forward Naif Hazazi has criticised the handling of Musab Al-Juwayr’s omission from the national team’s Gulf Cup squad, saying the explanation given for the midfielder’s disciplinary punishment “does not make sense”.

Al-Juwayr was removed from Saudi Arabia’s squad only days before the tournament because of a disciplinary issue. Fahad Al-Mufarrij, the team’s director, later confirmed that the player’s conduct had occurred more than once. Mukhtar Ali was called up as his replacement.

Hazazi challenged both the timing of the decision and Al-Mufarrij’s decision to discuss the matter publicly. Speaking in a video posted on his X account, he said the controversy had created unnecessary disruption around the national team.

“What is happening now is causing major confusion around our national team,” Hazazi said. “Saudi Arabia are supposed to be competing in a tournament they need to win, yet all these problems have emerged.”

He added that the issue should initially have been dealt with privately before being disclosed at a later stage.

“The Al-Juwayr situation should have remained behind closed doors and then been announced after some time,” said Hazazi. “But Al-Mufarrij excluded him and then went out to speak to the media. I reject this approach because matters like this will undoubtedly affect the camp and the atmosphere.”

Saudi Arabia’s squad had been preparing for the Gulf Cup when Al-Juwayr’s omission was announced. The incident was reportedly connected to a meal that the player had either delayed or ordered from outside the team camp, an explanation Hazazi said he could not accept.

“I am not convinced by the story about the meal being delayed or the player ordering it from outside,” he said. “This issue does not make sense, and Saudi fans have become much more aware.”

Hazazi also questioned why the same action had not been taken earlier if Al-Mufarrij was correct in saying the player had previously been involved in a similar incident.

“I am a former player and I know that his exclusion was for another reason that will not be mentioned,” Hazazi said. “But Al-Mufarrij said the player had done the same thing before. So why was the same decision not taken at that time?”

“There is only one meaning to this: the players had been protected before.”

Hazazi’s comments were posted on 21 September 2026, alongside footage in which he asked whether the decision could have been delayed rather than being taken so close to Saudi Arabia’s tournament campaign.