Tensions have risen within the Royal Army Club following the announcement by the “Black Army” faction supporting the team of their boycott of the team’s first match of the new season, scheduled for today, Thursday. This decision comes amid ongoing protests in which the faction demands a radical change at the administrative level, confirming that this step is a continuation of a series of protest movements that started at the end of last season.
The faction explained in an official statement that the club’s management, in their view, successfully diverted attention from the core issues and occupied the fans with minor matters instead of addressing what they described as “management disasters.” The statement emphasized that the faction’s primary demand, which has been the subject of discussion since the beginning of summer, is “radical reform,” especially after the unrest that spread among the fanbase following the end of the last season, which led to a firm conviction about the necessity of making real change within the club and the need for the departure of the delegated president, Hakim Al-Ayoubi.
“Black Army” directed sharp criticisms at calls to “turn the page on the past” and start a new chapter, considering these calls inconsistent with the current reality, given the continuation of the same faces, administrative structures, and controlling mentalities. The faction also referenced an incident involving an individual affiliated with Al-Ayoubi intervening in a training session and speaking with the coach, questioning the authority that permits such intervention. They also recalled previous interventions in the powers of the technical director and the sports director, highlighting the importance of the boycott by Black Army as a clear message.
The faction confirmed that today’s boycott decision represents a continuation of the protest action that began during the thirtieth round of the last season against Nahdat Zemamra, followed by a boycott of the Throne Cup match. “Black Army” stressed that their demands are firm and not linked to current results or the start of a new season, declaring their commitment to their protest stance until the comprehensive change they seek is achieved. This commitment reflects the significance of the faction’s demands and their refusal to retreat from them.
