Sports critic Abdulaziz Al-Ghaimah sparked controversy with sharp statements, calling for an increase in the number of Saudi teams in the elite AFC Champions League, describing the participation of Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr in the second tournament as "an insult."

Al-Ghaimah confirmed that Al-Nassr, currently third in the Roshen League, is at risk of missing out on the premier Asian tournament, and that Al-Hilal may face the same fate if it does not maintain its second position until the end of the league.

According to the Asian Federation's regulations, the elite league only includes the defending champion, along with the local league champions and runners-up, which limits the chances of the major teams to qualify despite having world-class stars.

Al-Ahli secured its place in the elite league as the champion of the last edition, while Al-Ittihad leads the standings with 68 points, followed by Al-Hilal with 62, and Al-Nassr in third place with 60 points.

Al-Ghaimah called for increasing the number of Roshen League slots in the elite tournament to five clubs, explaining that the AFC Champions League 2 should be reserved for teams in mid-table positions and below.

These statements come at a critical time as the season nears its end, with intense competition between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr for the runner-up position to secure a spot in the more important Asian tournament.