Media access at the highly anticipated match between Al Hilal and Al Ittihad was significantly restricted on Sunday, February 22, 2026, according to a report from Al Arabiya correspondent Naif Al Thaqeel.
Al Thaqeel stated that the match coordinator informed media personnel they were prohibited from taking photographs or video inside the stadium. Filming was limited to capturing the pre-match tifo displays and general crowd shots.
The restrictions led to a four-hour period where media representatives were unable to gather any visual content from within the stadium. Al Thaqeel explained that while traditional broadcast and print media faced these limitations, content creators were able to directly publish photos and videos on their own platforms.
He further noted the disparity in access, stating that television and program crews, bound by fixed broadcast schedules, found their coverage hampered by the restrictions compared to the immediacy of digital content. The limited access for media was reportedly confined to a joint interview session with Al Ittihad players in the mixed zone, with time constraints applying.
