The Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s failure to announce the dismissal of Hervé Renard from his position as coach of the Saudi national team has raised many questions.
The Frenchman himself announced that he was informed of his dismissal last Friday and that he would not be coaching the Green Falcons at the 2026 World Cup, just two months before the tournament’s start.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Federation reached an agreement with Giorgos Donis to take over from Renard, yet neither the dismissal nor the appointment of the Greek coach has been announced.
According to Saudi media reports, Renard is insisting on receiving the remainder of his contract in full, which is the main reason for the delay in announcing his dismissal.
Renard’s contract runs until next February, coinciding with the end of the 2027 Asian Cup, and he wants to receive his full salary until then. It is reported that the total amount owed to the coach could reach $5 million.
On the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s side, there are persistent attempts to persuade the coach to waive a significant portion of his salary and accept compensation equivalent to two or three months’ salary at most. So far, negotiations between the two parties have reached an impasse.
Renard holds the upper hand in these negotiations, as he believes that if he were to appeal to FIFA, the ruling would be in his favor immediately. This is why the Saudi Federation is hesitant to announce his dismissal until the matter is settled with the 55-year-old.
