Chaos in Jeddah: ‘Secret Clause’ and Dressing Room Tensions Rock Al Ittihad

The project at Al Ittihad Jeddah is currently facing a crisis of identity, and authority. What was intended to be a powerhouse era in the Saudi Pro League has instead devolved into a series of administrative scandals, poor on-pitch results, and a fractured relationship between the coaching staff and the squad’s star players.

At the center of the storm is Portuguese manager Sérgio Conceição, whose tenure has been marked by friction and a perceived lack of control over the dressing room. The situation reached a boiling point this week following revelations of a highly unusual contractual arrangement designed to mitigate conflict between the manager and the club’s high-profile French contingent.

The ‘Secret Clause’ Scandal

Media personality Mohammed Al-Bakiri has launched a scathing critique of Al Ittihad’s management, alleging a major administrative failure within the “Dean’s Office.” The most explosive detail involves a “secret clause” embedded in Sérgio Conceição’s contract. According to Al-Bakiri, one of the explicit conditions of the Portuguese coach’s employment was that he must not clash with the team’s French players, a group previously led by former striker Karim Benzema.

This revelation suggests a level of administrative desperation, implying that the club’s leadership anticipated friction between Conceição’s famously confrontational personality and the egos of the squad’s marquee signings. Al-Bakiri argued that the decision to replace French manager Laurent Blanc with Conceição last October was “rushed,” leaving the club with a coach whose style was fundamentally ill-suited for a dressing room that required a more diplomatic approach.

The fallout from this perceived malpractice has been evident in the team’s performance. Al Ittihad has not only struggled to maintain consistency but has also failed to secure both the league title and the King’s Cup this season.

The Benzema Paradox

Perhaps the most stinging indictment of the current regime is the trajectory of Karim Benzema. Once the focal point of the Al Ittihad attack, the French striker has since departed the club. The irony of this exit was laid bare this past Wednesday.

While Al Ittihad continues to slide, Benzema has found immediate success with Al Hilal. In a dominant display against Al Kholood, Benzema netted a hat-trick to aid secure a 6-0 victory for the Riyadh-based club. Seeing a former talisman thrive at a direct rival while the former club flounders has only intensified the pressure on Conceição and the Jeddah management.

On-Pitch Collapse: The Neom Disaster

The instability in the boardroom is mirroring the instability on the pitch. Al Ittihad recently suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Neom in a match defined by wild swings in momentum. The game began poorly for the Jeddah side, conceding goals to Benrahma and Luciano Rodríguez within the opening minutes.

A brief resurgence saw Moroccan forward En Nesyri score twice—including a clinical finish set up by Fabinho—before Houssem Aouar gave Al Ittihad a 3-2 lead following an assist from Danilo Pereira. However, the defensive frailties that have plagued Conceição’s tenure resurfaced. Goals from Al Saad and Al Haji eventually handed Neom the victory in stoppage time.

This result leaves Al Ittihad in a precarious position. The club currently sits in sixth place in the Saudi Pro League, leaving them adrift of the qualifying spots for the AFC Champions League Elite. With only three points separating them from Al Ettifaq, the “Dean” is facing the reality of a season that has fallen far short of expectations.

A Management in Turmoil

The transition from Laurent Blanc to Sérgio Conceição was meant to instill discipline and a winning edge. Instead, it appears to have created a vacuum of trust. Al-Bakiri’s comments suggest that the “confrontational personality” of the Portuguese manager has caused significant tension in the dressing room, rather than the unity required to challenge for trophies.

For a global audience following the Saudi Pro League, the Al Ittihad saga serves as a cautionary tale. The acquisition of world-class talent is only half the battle; the integration of those players under a compatible tactical and psychological leadership is where the project is currently failing.

The club now finds itself in a cycle of “media backlash” and poor results, with the management struggling to justify the current sporting direction.

The Road Ahead

Al Ittihad has no time to dwell on the “secret clause” controversy or the sight of Benzema scoring for Al Hilal. The club faces a critical stretch of fixtures that will likely determine the fate of the coaching staff.

• Al-Wahda: April 14, 2026, at 11:00 local time.
• Al Hilal: April 28, 2026, at 10:00 local time.

The upcoming clash with Al Hilal on April 28 will be more than just a league match; it will be a direct confrontation with the ghost of their former star striker and a litmus test for whether Conceição can finally bring stability to a chaotic environment.

Do you consider Sérgio Conceição is the right man to lead Al Ittihad, or has the relationship with the players become unsalvageable? Share your thoughts in the comments below.