1982–83 Saudi Premier League

The 1982–83 Saudi Premier League was the 7th season of Saudi Premier League since its establishment in 1976. Al-Ittihad were the defending champions, having won their 1st title in the previous season. The campaign began on 16 December 1982 and ended on 8 April 1983. The number of teams in the league was reduced from the previous season. The league was contested by 10 teams, the top 5 teams from Groups A and B.

Saudi Premier League
Season1982–83
Dates16 December 1982 – 8 April 1983
ChampionsAl-Ettifaq (1st title)
RelegatedOhod
Al-Rawdhah
Gulf Club Champions CupAl-Ettifaq
Arab Club Champions CupAl-Ettifaq
Matches played90
Goals scored218 (2.42 per match)
Top goalscorerMajed Abdullah
(14 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Nassr 7–2 Al-Rawdhah
(18 February 1983)
Biggest away winAl-Ittihad 2–5 Al-Ahli
(7 April 1983)
Highest scoringAl-Nassr 7–2 Al-Rawdhah
(18 February 1983)
Longest winning run7 games
Al-Hilal
Longest unbeaten run18 games
Al-Ettifaq
Longest winless run15 games
Ohod
Longest losing run5 games
Al-Nahda

Going into the final matchday, Al-Hilal were leading the table with 1 point ahead of Al-Ettifaq. The two teams would face their city rivals in the final matchday on separate days. On 7 April 1983, Al-Ettifaq defeated Al-Nahda 2–0.[1] This meant that Al-Hilal needed just a draw against Al-Nassr to secure the title, as they were ahead of Al-Ettifaq on goal difference as well. On 8 April 1983, Al-Nassr defeated Al-Hilal 2–1 to hand Al-Ettifaq their first league title.[2] Al-Ettifaq ended the season without a single defeat and became the first Saudi team to ever do so. Al-Ettifaq also became the first team from Dammam to win the title.[3] Khalil Al-Zayani also became the first Saudi Arabian manager to win the league title.

Ohod were the first team to be relegated following a 5–1 away defeat to Al-Shabab on 7 April 1983.[4] The following day, Al-Rawdhah were defeated by Al-Qadisiyah 2–0 and were relegated.[5]

By winning the league title this also meant that Al-Ettifaq would qualify for the 1983 Gulf Club Champions Cup and the 1984 Arab Club Champions Cup, which they went on to win as well.

On 1 April 1983, Abdullah Al-Suwailem assaulted referee Mohammed Foda during the match against Al-Hilal. During the 90th minute while the scores were still level at 1–1, Mohammed Foda sent off Al-Shabab's Al-Suwailem for receiving a pass from the goalkeeper in the 18-yard box. Minutes later in the 2nd minute of stoppage Al-Hilal would go on and score the winner. Al-Suwailem then rushed towards the referee and assaulted him. He was eventually held back by the stadium security. Foda then immediately blew for the final whistle and Al-Shabab's players rushed towards the referee. Foda was escorted out of the stadium by the police. In the aftermath, the Saudi FF suspended 4 players from Al-Shabab and the perpetrator, Al-Suwailem, was put in prison.[6]

The season was also marked by tragedy. On 14 March 1983 Al-Nassr goalkeeper Sultan Marzooq was killed in a car accident, while he was on his way to the team's training ground.[7] He played his final match three days prior in a 3–3 draw against Al-Ahli.

Teams

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Ten teams competed in the league – the top five teams from Groups A and B of the previous season. The top five teams from Group A were Al-Shabab, Al-Nassr, Al-Ettifaq, Ohod, and Al-Qadsiah. The top five teams from Group B were Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Nahda, Al-Ahli, and Al-Rawdhah.

The ten relegated teams were Al-Tai, Al-Kawkab, Al-Ansar, Al-Riyadh, Al-Wehda, Al-Jabalain, Damac, Al-Khaleej, Al-Taawoun, and Okaz.

Stadiums and locations

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Club Location Stadium
Al-Ahli Jeddah Youth Welfare Stadium in Jeddah
Al-Ettifaq Dammam Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam
Al-Hilal Riyadh Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz
Al-Ittihad Jeddah Youth Welfare Stadium in Jeddah
Al-Nahda Dammam Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam
Al-Nassr Riyadh Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz
Al-Qadsiah Khobar Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam
Al-Rawdhah Al-Jeshah Al-Hasa Sports Center Stadium
Al-Shabab Riyadh Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz
Ohod Medina Youth Welfare Stadium in Medina

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Al-Ettifaq (C) 18 10 8 0 25 10 +15 28 Gulf Club Champions Cup and
Arab Club Champions Cup
2 Al-Hilal 18 11 5 2 32 17 +15 27
3 Al-Shabab 18 9 6 3 31 16 +15 24
4 Al-Nassr 18 7 6 5 29 22 +7 20
5 Al-Ahli 18 5 10 3 25 19 +6 20
6 Al-Ittihad 18 5 6 7 22 26 −4 16
7 Al-Qadsiah 18 3 8 7 19 22 −3 14
8 Al-Nahda 18 3 5 10 10 21 −11 11
9 Al-Rawdhah (R) 18 1 9 8 12 32 −20 11 Relegated
10 Ohod (R) 18 2 5 11 13 33 −20 9
Source: rsssf.com Al-Madina
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
  • Promoted: Al-Wehda, Al Riyadh.


 Saudi Premier League
1982-83 winners 
Ettifaq
1st title

Results

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Home \ Away AHL ETT HIL ITT NAH NSR QAD RAW SHB OHD
Al-Ahli 1–1 0–1 1–1 2–1 3–3 1–1 1–1 1–0 4–2
Al-Ettifaq 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–0
Al-Hilal 1–1 0–0 2–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 4–1 2–3 2–0
Al-Ittihad 2–5 0–0 3–5 1–0 1–0 2–0 4–1 1–3 0–0
Al-Nahda 0–0 0–2 0–1 0–1 1–1 0–2 1–0 0–3 2–0
Al-Nassr 1–0 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–0 0–1 7–2 0–1 2–1
Al-Qadsiah 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1
Al-Rawdhah 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 0–2
Al-Shabab 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–2 3–0 5–1
Ohod 1–3 0–3 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–3 1–0 0–0 0–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals
1   Majed Abdullah Al-Nassr 14
2   Khalid Al-Ma'ajil Al-Shabab 13
3   Jamal Mohammed Al-Ettifaq 9
4   Abdullah Al-Jarbo'o Al-Hilal 7
  Talal Sobhi Al-Ahli
6   Hamad Al-Dossari Al-Qadsiah 6
  Hussam Abu Dawood Al-Ahli
8   Amin Dabo Al-Ahli 5
  Naif Marzooq Al-Shabab
  Abdulrahman Al-Qoosi Al-Shabab


See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ودع الاتفاقيون اشقائهم بالنهضة".[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Al-Jazirah newspaper 09-04-1983".
  3. ^ "بطل الدوري يصل فيقلب ليل المنطقة نهارا".
  4. ^ "الشباب يودع احد بخمسة اهداف".
  5. ^ "القادسية تعلن هبوط الروضة".[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Al-Jazirah newspaper 03-04-1983".
  7. ^ "سلطان مرزووق الى رحمة الله".
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  • RSSSF Stats
  • Article writer for Saleh Al-Hoireny - Al-Jazirah newspaper 03-09-2010