Italian coach Luigi Di Biagio, head of the Saudi Arabia U23 national team, announced the exclusion of midfielder Abbas Al-Hassan from the current camp roster after confirming his medical unfitness.

The medical team explained that the tests conducted on Al-Hassan revealed a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, necessitating the start of a long treatment and rehabilitation program.

De Biagio was forced to rely on alternative options in midfield after the medical report confirmed that the player could not continue in the training camp or participate in the upcoming friendly matches.

The Olympic team revealed that the player will undergo additional evaluation procedures in the coming days in preparation for determining the timing of the surgical intervention and the recovery steps leading up to his return to the field.

The decision to exclude came simultaneously with the Saudi national team's loss to their Iraqi counterpart by a score of 1-0, in the match held on Saturday evening as part of the international friendly tournament in the UAE.

The coaching staff is working to address the weaknesses that appeared against Iraq, especially with Al-Hassan's absence, hoping to make better use of the remaining matches in the friendly tournament.