Hamdallah returns to Al Nassr spotlight amid fierce reception from home fans

Abderrazak Hamdallah was subjected to a hostile reception from Al Nassr supporters during Al Taawoun’s Roshn Saudi League meeting with his former club on Friday, with chants and whistles directed at the Morocco striker before kick-off and throughout the match.

The tension was already evident during the warm-up, when sections of the Al Nassr support aimed the chant “يا بكاية” at Hamdallah. The phrase was a reference to the disputes surrounding the end of his time with the Riyadh club.

Hamdallah did not respond directly to the supporters and appeared to ignore the chants as he prepared for the match.

The jeering continued once the game began. Al Nassr fans repeatedly whistled at their former striker, particularly whenever he lost possession, leaving Hamdallah under sustained pressure during the contest.

One video from the match also showed the referee awarding Al Nassr a free-kick, with Hamdallah protesting the decision. The incident added to an evening in which the forward remained a central focus for the home crowd.

Hamdallah’s appearance at Al Nassr carries particular significance because of the years he spent with the club and the considerable success he achieved there. His relationship with Al Nassr eventually ended in controversial circumstances, and he has since become one of the players most regularly targeted by the club’s supporters when facing them.

The reaction from the stands came as Al Nassr sought to maintain their perfect start to the Roshn Saudi League season. They had won their opening three matches and collected the maximum nine points before the meeting with Al Taawoun, strengthening their early challenge for the top of the table.

Al Nassr began the campaign with a victory over Al Riyadh. They then produced a notable comeback against Al Ettifaq, winning 3-2 despite playing most of the match with 10 men.

That strong opening gave the Al Taawoun fixture added importance for the home side, who were determined to preserve their winning run. For Hamdallah, however, the match represented another difficult return to a ground where supporters have repeatedly made their feelings known since his departure.

The striker attempted to block out the noise and concentrate on his performance, but attention remained fixed on him as the match unfolded. The chants and whistles underlined that the dispute between Hamdallah and the Al Nassr faithful remains unresolved, despite the passage of several years since he left the club.

His return once again brought together two contrasting storylines: Al Nassr’s ambition to continue their excellent start and Hamdallah’s enduringly complicated relationship with the club’s supporters.