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Austria Now News – Sport
This weekend’s entire round of the Saudi Pro League has been cancelled, days after the 2027 Asian Cup was postponed, as security tensions in the Middle East increasingly affect major sporting events, according to a BBC Sport report.
League cites redistribution of fixtures
The league did not link the decision to the situation in the region, explaining that the calendar would be readjusted following the Asian Cup postponement to achieve a more balanced distribution of matches. Three matches were postponed last month after the attack on a major airport in Riyadh, which the league at the time attributed to mandatory rest periods and logistical requirements.
The Asian Football Confederation had announced that the Asian Cup, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia from 7 January to 5 February, would be moved to the period from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028.
Al-Nassr stars miss Uzbekistan trip
The impact has also reached the AFC Champions League, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Kingsley Coman did not travel with Al-Nassr to Uzbekistan this week, with the club citing fixture congestion and frequent travel. Emirati club Al-Wasl also declined to travel to Saudi Arabia to face Al-Nassr, and a new date will be set for the match.
Formula 1 faces a dilemma
In Formula 1, the Qatar race, scheduled at the Lusail circuit from 27 to 29 November, and the Abu Dhabi race, scheduled for next month, are now in doubt. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races were cancelled last April, and if the two remaining races are also called off, the championship will lose 4 of its 24 races this season.
Austria Now News – keeping you up to date.
Photo: Meshari Alawfi / Wikimedia Commons – CC BY 4.0
Sources
- BBC Sport – How sporting events are being impacted by Middle East conflict – 03.11.2026 – bbc.co.uk
