Iraqi club handed win after opponent fails to turn up during kick-off in Gulf Club Champions League

File photo: Al-Ettifaq confirmed in a previous statement that its management has made continuous efforts to address the situation, with support from the Saudi Football Federation, but it received a response rejecting the postponement. | Photo Credit: AFP

The Gulf Club Champions League witnessed a bizarre series of events as Iraqi club Erbil SC was awarded a win after the opponent, Al-Ettifaq Club from Saudi Arabia, failed to turn up for the match.

The decision came after the inability of the Saudi club delegation to travel to Iraq amid regional tensions in and around Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ettifaq confirmed in a previous statement that its management has made continuous efforts to address the situation, with support from the Saudi Football Federation, but it received a response rejecting the postponement and maintaining the scheduled match date.

نظراً لتعذر حضور نادي الاتفاق السعودي ..شووف لحظة إعلان الحكم قراره بشأن مباراة أربيل العراقي مع الاتفاق السعودي في منافسات دوري أبطال الخليج للأندية بعد الانتظار وانقضاء المدة القانونية #دوري_أبطال_الخليج #قنوات_الكاس || #منصة_شووف https://t.co/Cwwzl14a6D

— قنوات الكاس (@AlkassTVSports) October 28, 2026

The club has confirmed that it coordinated with the relevant authorities before determining that its delegation could not be in the city of Erbil, Iraq, to play the match as scheduled, prompting it to renew its request for a postponement.

The broadcast of the match on Alkass TV Sports showed the referees waiting on the field, with Erbil SC’s players waiting for the match. But Al Ettifaq never arrived, leading to the match being considered forfeited, giving the Iraqi club the win.