Badr Al-Ruzai

Friday/Saturday, July 24, 2026

When the General Election Committee announced the timeline for the elections of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Football Federation, I briefly considered entering this race or electoral contest with a fully-fledged file, as I discovered that I met all the personal, technical, and academic qualifications and criteria, with an advantage over all candidates due to a national achievement I am proud of. However, in that same moment, I sought refuge from Satan and retracted my decision, and I blessed candidate Badr Al-Ruzai over the rest of the candidates. Perhaps what prompted me to withdraw so quickly is that I am not adept at contesting elections or handling their procedures. Moreover, I would not dare to resign from a position in which I succeeded to enter an electoral race whose outcome I do not know. I am keen to ensure success and only move forward with confident steps.

Also, the General Assembly's vote in its extraordinary meeting and approval of the proposed amendments to the bylaws and election regulations without disclosing what was amended in the bylaws and regulations – I also wondered to myself: Why would a successful man like candidate Al-Ruzai resign from the presidency of a club like Al-Qadsiah and enter an experience whose ability to overcome he may not know?

Undoubtedly, it is an adventure. It may write an important phase in your career, or you may leave the sports scene afterwards. In the world of sports management, leaders do not leave their positions just to have a fleeting experience; resignation is a calculated decision. Running for the presidency of a federation the size of the Saudi Football Federation is a decision not made under the pressure of the moment. The confident candidate may have a different reading of the scene, or perhaps he has support and confidence that others like me do not see. He may also have the votes that grant him the presidency.

What I see is that some strategic sports institutions are only suited for an appointment system. I know my view contradicts FIFA regulations, but elections in sports often resemble cup matches. The best team does not always win; rather, the team that knows how to score the goal at the right moment wins. And perhaps the best may not win it, but rather the one who has the voice.

The Saudi Football Federation faces developmental tasks and future engineering that cannot tolerate transient efforts, but rather calls for an integrated project that begins with rebuilding the talent discovery system, passes through developing competitions and age groups, and ends with creating a national team capable of continental and global competition. The next phase is not about managing the present, but about creating a future that aligns with the vision of this nation.

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- Dr. Dhiyab Al-Hejaili

@TheyabAlhejaili

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