Adnan Jastania

Whisper of Truth

Abu Fares, President of Al-Ittihad, Responds to 'Abu Fares' the Journalist

22 July 2026 - 00:07 | Last update 22 July 2026 - 00:07

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Following the article I wrote yesterday, Tuesday, titled 'Fahad Sindi... The Expectations Were Greater,' the president of Al-Ittihad club, Fahad Sindi (Abu Fares), contacted me via WhatsApp immediately after the article was published after I sent it to him confidentially on his platform or account. A lengthy dialogue ensued between us, and at its end I felt that Al-Ittihad fans had the right to see it, so I asked his permission to publish it as is, and he kindly agreed. I leave it to the esteemed reader, and especially to Al-Ittihad fans, to judge its contents without any comment or interference from me.

- The dialogue began with a comment from the club president: 'Apologies for the shortcomings, Abu Fares, but God willing, the expectations are in their place.'

My response was immediate: 'You have no excuse left, Abu Fares. Take it from me as your brother, submit your resignation today before tomorrow, as I made clear in the article. By God, I am among the advisors to you.'

- He replied: 'Let us assume, Abu Fares, that the solution is to resign—though I see it as completely wrong—who will run the club in the absence of elections from the ministry, given that the Public Investment Fund owns 75% of the club?'

I responded: 'My dear, let the fund bear the responsibility, let it carry the burden. Imagine if the team plays against Al Jazira of the UAE in the Asian playoff and fails, then your position will become more difficult and embarrassing before the public and public opinion. You tried and worked hard, and you found no support, so why the insistence? History will only record that you sacrificed Al-Ittihad for survival, especially since we have not seen the reform you spoke to me about in more than one phone call, which you hoped to achieve.'

- I expected after that that Abu Fares would wave the white flag, but he replied: 'I disagree with you, Abu Fares. Stepping down to avoid blame and theoretically shift responsibility to a certain party is, in my view, a disservice to Al-Ittihad and selfishness from the board. Much reform has been achieved, especially concerning the first team, starting with the removal of Ramon and the recruitment of Janz, which would not have been possible without God's grace and then hard work and perseverance internally, and there is still more to come. Your opinion is respected, even if the language of emotion and love dominates it.'

At this point, I thought it best to be more frank and transparent with him, so I said: 'Recall how many suggestions I presented to you that were not adopted, and how many decisions I advised you not to take, but you had another opinion. In any case, I hope my affection for you has made clear the value of the article titled "Fahad Sindi... The Expectations Were Greater." I ask God for your success in all circumstances, and know that my stance from now on will be based solely on the interest of the entity.'

His reply was frank and clear: 'Your stance has always been for the benefit of Al-Ittihad, Abu Fares, and may God bless you. Your interaction with any action we take, whether in agreement or opposition, is the essence of your role as a fan and journalist, a role I respect and which increases my appreciation for your esteemed person. Write whatever you wish, for I know that what you write stems from prioritizing the entity's interest over anything else, based on what appears to you as facts.'

Then I felt, with my journalistic sense, that it was my duty to convey this dialogue with full transparency to you, dear reader. So I asked his permission, and I told him verbatim: 'Allow me, with your permission, to convey this dialogue that took place between us in an article, so that the public may understand your position, if you wish?'

His response was: 'You are free to do so, Abu Fares.'

At the conclusion of the dialogue, I said to him: 'My heart is with you even if I disagree with you. If you have any additions, good news, or information you would like to add to our discussion, I would be grateful, perhaps it will achieve the desired goal of this dialogue, which is the interest of the entity. And may you stay well.'

His final response was: 'Excuse me now, Abu Fares, but God willing in the near future.'

* I could have kept this dialogue on my phone and let it remain locked in memory, but I felt that Al-Ittihad fans and the sports community had the right to see it as it occurred, without addition or deletion, especially since the club president kindly agreed to its publication.

* I repeat what I said to him in this dialogue and what I wrote in my previous article: I am, by God, among the advisors to him and to the members of both the for-profit and non-profit organizations. And I still hold my explicit and clear position: Please submit your resignations immediately. Enough, enough, enough.

* Some may disagree with me, and others may agree, but what I wrote yesterday and today is not a feud with individuals or a defense of them, but rather a testimony for history and a complete bias toward the interest of Al-Ittihad and its fans.