Fan Assaults Al-Ittihad Player with Whip After Saudi Super Cup Final
During the Saudi Super Cup final on Thursday night, a shocking incident occurred when a fan attacked Al-Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah with a whip. The incident took place moments after the match, which saw Al-Ittihad lose 4-1 to Al-Hilal at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.
A video circulating on social media shows Hamdallah throwing water from a bottle at the fan, who retaliated by pulling out a long whip and lashing at the Moroccan international twice. The second lash appeared to hit Hamdallah’s back, but the 33-year-old did not appear to be injured.
As Hamdallah’s teammates intervened, the fan was guided away by another spectator and a security official. However, the video suggests that the fan was not detained. A young fan in a wheelchair was nearly caught in the crossfire of the altercation.
The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from the football community. Al-Ittihad has not yet responded to a request for comment. Hamdallah, who played for Morocco in the 2022 World Cup semifinals, is in his sixth season in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Super Cup was expanded in 2023 to include the runners-up from both the league and King’s Cup competitions. It was also moved to Abu Dhabi.
