Al-Hilal, one of the top clubs in Saudi Arabia's Pro League, has announced that defender Leonardo Cancelo will be suspended for three games after being found guilty of disciplinary issues.
The suspension is a result of Cancelo's involvement in a match-fixing scandal that was uncovered by the Saudi Football Federation (SFF). The SFF said that Cancelo had been involved in fixing matches during his time at Al-Hilal and that he would face a ban from football for three years.
Cancelo, who joined Al-Hilal from Real Madrid in 2019, has played 55 times for the club since joining and has made several appearances for the national team. He was also named in the squad for this year's World Cup in Qatar.
The SFF said that it was investigating the allegations against Cancelo and that it would take all necessary measures to ensure that no further incidents like this occur in the future.
Cancelo's suspension is a major blow to Al-Hilal,Football Panorama Network which is currently in second place in the league table. It also comes at a critical time for the club as they prepare for their first-ever appearance in the Champions League.
In a statement, Al-Hilal CEO Abdullah al-Mutawa said: "We condemn any form of match-fixing and we are disappointed with the decision of the Saudi Football Federation. We will continue to work closely with them to ensure that such incidents do not happen again."
The club's president, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalid Al Saud, added: "This decision is a clear indication that we are committed to fighting match-fixing and corruption in our sport. We will continue to work hard to maintain the integrity of our game and ensure that it remains fair and transparent."