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flynas Named Official Carrier of Saudi Al-Hilal Club with Four-Season Sponsorship Deal

The agreement aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims for the sports sector to support both the economy and tourism. (SPA)
The agreement aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims for the sports sector to support both the economy and tourism. (SPA)
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flynas Named Official Carrier of Saudi Al-Hilal Club with Four-Season Sponsorship Deal

The agreement aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims for the sports sector to support both the economy and tourism. (SPA)
The agreement aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims for the sports sector to support both the economy and tourism. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's flynas, the low-cost airline in the world and the best LCC in the Middle East, signed on Tuesday an exclusive sponsorship agreement with Al-Hilal Al-Saudi Club Company to serve as the club’s official air carrier for four seasons, extending through the end of the 2027-2028 season.

The agreement aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims for the sports sector to support both the economy and tourism.

The agreement was signed by flynas CEO Bander Almohanna and Al-Hilal Al-Saudi Club Company Chairman Fahad bin Saad bin Nafel, in the presence of flynas Chairman Ayed Al Jeaid and other senior executives from both sides.

Almohanna stated that flynas’ entry into the sports sector for the first time underscores its commitment to empowering the sports sector to support the economy and tourism.

This partnership will contribute to providing extensive services and products that meet the aspirations of their traveling guests, he added.

The partnership with Al-Hilal Club is consistent with flynas’ position as one of the top four low-cost airlines in the world and the best LCC in the Middle East, he added.

He emphasized Al-Hilal Club's remarkable track record of success locally and globally, aligning with flynas’ strategy for growth, expansion, and connecting the world to the Kingdom, particularly as Saudi Arabia has become a global destination for many sports, championships, and competitions.

Al-Hilal Chairman Fahad bin Saad bin Nafel expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, describing it as a significant step and one of the largest partnership deals recently concluded by the club.

The partnership embodies the integration between the economic and sports sectors, which will positively contribute to achieving the objectives of Vision 2030, he remarked.

flynas connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations with more than 1,500 weekly flights and has flown more than 80 million passengers since its launch in 2007.

It aims to reach 165 domestic and international destinations as part of its growth and expansion plan launched under the slogan “We connect the world to the Kingdom,” in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.

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European Leagues, Players’ Union Lash out at FIFA's Calendar ‘Abuse’

Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe challenges Villarreal's Spanish goalkeeper #13 Diego Conde during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe challenges Villarreal's Spanish goalkeeper #13 Diego Conde during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
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European Leagues, Players’ Union Lash out at FIFA's Calendar ‘Abuse’

Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe challenges Villarreal's Spanish goalkeeper #13 Diego Conde during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe challenges Villarreal's Spanish goalkeeper #13 Diego Conde during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 5, 2024. (AFP)

A players' union, the European leagues' group and Spain's LaLiga accused FIFA of "abuse" on Monday as they filed a joint complaint about the governing body's international match schedule to European Union antitrust regulators.

Elite leagues are concerned at the impact of an expanding football calendar on wellbeing, with some players struggling from fatigue, injuries and the mental toll even though they are often compensated with enormous salaries.

"The complaint explains how FIFA's imposition of decisions on the international calendar is an abuse of dominance and violates European Union law," complainants FIFPRO Europe, European Leagues and LaLiga said in a statement.

European Leagues is an association that includes the Premier League, the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 but not LaLiga.

A particular bone of contention is the Club World Cup, which has been revamped for next year, with an increase from seven to 32 clubs, and is to take place in the US for almost a month. As well as adding matches, that could delay clubs' pre-season tours designed to expand global fan bases.

"It is getting to a tipping point. The feedback we have from players is that there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion," Premier League CEO Richard Masters said in the complainants' statement.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas accused FIFA of "acting solely in its own interest, without considering the damage to the entire football ecosystem."

'TOO MUCH'

French captain Kylian Mbappe, in a video aired at the three bodies' news conference, said: "When it's too much, it's too much."

FIFA, however, argues that the international calendar was approved by representatives of all continents including Europe after consultation with FIFPRO and leagues.

As well as a much larger Club World Cup, the next World Cup itself will also be expanded to 48 nations from 32.

European governing body UEFA has also increased its schedule, notably with the new Champions League format, but not been targeted in the complaint to regulators.

Mathieu Moreuil, Premier League director of international football relations and EU affairs, said that was because FIFA was responsible for the international calendar and relations were different with UEFA thanks to dialogue.

Earlier on Monday, FIFA said it would start negotiations with the sport's stakeholders on the transfer system after the EU ruled parts of it were unlawful.

FIFA regulations say a player who terminates a contract before its term "without just cause" is liable to pay compensation to the club, and where the player joins a new club they will be jointly liable for payment of compensation.

But the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), ruling on a high-profile case linked to former France player Lassana Diarra, stated on Oct. 4 these dispositions were unlawful, which is likely to prompt a revamp.