AFC chief says Al Nassr-Al Wasl postponement review is under way

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa says specialist committees at the Asian Football Confederation are examining the postponement of Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite match against Al Wasl.

The game was due to take place on Monday at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh in the third round of the West region’s group stage. The AFC competitions department announced on Sunday that the fixture would be rescheduled, with a new date to be confirmed later.

Speaking to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah, AFC president Sheikh Salman said the review was not being handled solely by the organisation’s leadership.

“The specialist committees in the AFC are following all the details and studying all the matters and circumstances in full. The issue is not limited to the presidency of the federation,” he said.

He added that the AFC was working with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and would issue further information through its formal procedures.

“We are following all the matters and developments in coordination with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. At the appropriate time, everything will be announced through the system,” Sheikh Salman said.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation said after the postponement was announced that all arrangements required to host the match had been completed.

It said it had worked with Al Nassr and the relevant authorities to receive Al Wasl’s delegation, and had finished the organisational and logistical preparations. Those measures included issuing flight permits and formally notifying the AFC that Saudi Arabia was ready to stage the match.

The federation also said it had coordinated with the United Arab Emirates Football Association and Al Wasl, informing both that preparations were complete. The match inspector and refereeing team had arrived in Riyadh before the scheduled kick-off, according to the statement.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation reiterated its full support for Al Nassr and the Saudi clubs involved in international competitions. It also said it was ready to assist them with any formal procedures they might take to protect their rights.

The new date for Al Nassr’s meeting with Al Wasl remains pending while the AFC reviews the circumstances surrounding the decision.

The fixture listings included with the report showed Al Nassr scheduled to face Al Kholood in the Saudi Pro League on 29 October 2026. Al Wasl was listed to play Al Dhafra in the ADNOC Pro League on 30 October 2026.