The Frenchman Karim Benzema, the striker for Saudi club Al Hilal, was absent from the team's delegation heading to Dubai today in preparation for facing Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE tomorrow, as part of the seventh round of the AFC Champions League for the elite.

According to the Saudi sports newspaper, the regulations of the Asian Football Confederation prohibit any player from participating with two different teams in the group stage of the same tournament, which prevented Karim Benzema from being registered in Al Hilal's Asian squad against Shabab Al Ahli.

Benzema had participated with his former club Al-Ittihad in the current edition of the tournament, where he played 4 matches in the group stage, successfully scoring 4 goals without providing any assists, which makes him ineligible to participate with Al-Hilal in the same stage.

It is noted that Al-Hilal Club's management signed the French star during the last winter transfer window in a free transfer deal, with a contract extending for a season and a half, following the termination of his contract with Al-Ittihad Club. His continental appearances with "Al-Zaeem" will be limited to the knockout stages if they qualify.