Al Hilal says Thmanyah broadcast failed to meet professional standards

The board of directors of Al Hilal Club Company has criticised comments made by a guest on Thmanyah on Monday, saying unsubstantiated claims about the club’s signings had damaged its reputation and raised potential legal concerns.

In a statement published on the club’s official website, Al Hilal said the guest had made “irresponsible claims and inaccurate information regarding the club’s contracts, describing them as being of unknown origin, in an approach that lacked accuracy and professionalism”.

The club said the comments had gone beyond legitimate sporting criticism because they were presented without supporting information or evidence. It added that Al Hilal had already disclosed the sources of its signings through its own media channels.

The board also questioned the conduct of the programme’s presenter, accusing him of allowing the claims to pass without challenging them or asking the guest to substantiate what had been said.

Al Hilal said: “The board was also surprised by the position of the programme presenter, who passed on these claims without discussing them or asking his guest to prove what he had stated. This is inconsistent with the professional responsibility expected when dealing with claims that affect the reputation and integrity of a corporate entity.”

The club stressed that all its recruitment activity and financial procedures were conducted within the relevant regulations and approved governance frameworks.

It said the episode had been broadcast while the Public Investment Fund remained the official owner of Al Hilal Club Company, holding 100% of its shares. According to the statement, that ownership structure increased the seriousness of the allegations and the possible regulatory and legal responsibilities arising from them.

Al Hilal said it had issued the statement specifically because the claims were broadcast by Thmanyah, the official broadcaster of Saudi competitions. It argued that this placed a greater media and professional responsibility on the organisation to verify information and ensure accuracy.

The club added that Thmanyah should not allow its platforms to be used to circulate unreliable information or allegations affecting Al Hilal, its officials and employees, saying such content could mislead the public and harm both the club and the wider organisation.

The statement said Al Hilal trusted Thmanyah’s management to uphold the professional standards required of it as the official broadcaster of Saudi competitions. The club also called on the company to address what had been said on the programme and correct the inaccurate information that had been presented.

Al Hilal further revealed that its specialist teams had monitored several similar incidents in recent months across different media platforms. These included alleged overstepping, insults and claims directed at the club and its staff.

The board said its decision not to respond publicly to every case should not be interpreted as ignoring them. Instead, the company was documenting the incidents and dealing with them through the appropriate legal and regulatory channels, while taking steps to protect the rights of Al Hilal and its employees.

The statement concluded by reaffirming the club’s respect for criticism and freedom of expression in the media.

“While the board of directors of Al Hilal Club Company affirms its respect for criticism and freedom of media expression, it stresses that this does not justify publishing false or malicious information. The company will continue to take the necessary measures against every violation that affects the club’s rights or reputation.”