Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Ma'idh Al Shahri, a current member of the board of directors of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, began his electoral moves by conducting a series of intensive contacts with a number of clubs since last week, seeking to obtain their votes in the elections for the board of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, which is expected to announce its timeline during the current week.

Al Shahri is considered one of the figures with experience in administrative work within the Saudi Arabian Football Federation; he previously chaired the 'Players' Status Committee' from 2019 to 2020, also served as vice president of the 'Professionalism Committee' between 2017 and 2019, before assuming general supervision over the department of match observers and coordinators since 2020, in addition to over 13 years of sports administrative experience in the Football Federation.

According to the sources, Al Shahri has intensified his communication with officials from a number of clubs in recent days, in the context of rallying support and building his electoral list before the race officially begins, amid expectations of strong competition for the presidency and membership of the board in its next term; 'as he challenges his competitors with his extensive experience and deep relationships with dozens of clubs.'

The sources added that Al Shahri, who has built a wide network of relationships with clubs over the past years, enjoys significant support from a number of clubs, while sources in his list confirmed, according to them, that he currently has the backing of about 30 votes out of 49 votes representing the members of the 'General Assembly of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.'

And they said with great defiance and full confidence: 'Our relationships with the clubs are very strong... they have known the candidate for many years... and all these clubs will give him their votes in the elections.'

The sources indicated that Al Shahri is working on completing the formation of his list, while ensuring to include diverse expertise from the sports, administrative, media, and legal fields, and he will reveal it next week.

According to the sources, the preliminary list so far includes: Munaf Abu Shuqair, former Al-Ittihad player; Nabil Naqshbandi, former TV commentator and current technical analyst; Ahmed Al Ghamdi, former executive director of Al-Nassr Club; along with Ahmed Al-Sheikhi, specialist in sports law; and Ali Al-Salahi, president of Qalwah Club.

The sources also reported that Al Shahri has sought in the recent period to persuade two figures, one of whom currently works in one of the committees of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, and the other in the professionalism department of a major capital club, to join his list, but these efforts have not been finalized yet, and Asharq Al-Awsat is withholding their names.

According to the sources, the coming days will be decisive in shaping the electoral race, with anticipation of the announcement of the election timetable, which will set the dates for opening nominations, the period for submitting appeals, and approving final lists, leading to polling day, expected to take place during the period from 27 August to 2 September next.

The race for the presidency of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation is expected to see wide competition; Badr Al-Ruziza is preparing to officially submit his candidacy file, along with Abdullah Hammad, director of the 'Mahd Academy', while names such as Khaled Al-Ghamdi, president of Al-Ahli Club; Hatem Khaimi, former president of Al-Wehda Club; and Saad Al-Ahmari, president of Abha Club, are also emerging among those intending to enter the race.

Hamad Al-Sunai' is still studying his options, whether to submit his candidacy file for the presidency of the Federation, or to join one of the electoral lists, foremost among them the list of Ma'idh Al Shahri, or Hatem Khaimi, or Khaled Al-Ghamdi.