[Saba Sports News] According to the latest reports from Saudi media, Karim Benzema, the star player of Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, has decided to boycott matches in protest against the lowball contract renewal offer presented by the club. It is learned that the new contract features a drastic pay cut and includes clauses that impose strict restrictions on his image rights and other core entitlements, leaving him feeling that his value is not being recognized. This sense of disrespect has become the direct trigger for his boycott. Benzema had previously stated his desire to continue playing in Saudi Arabia for several more years rather than a short stint, indicating his high expectations for the contract renewal, yet the final offer falls far short of what he anticipated.
While Benzema’s boycott may put pressure on the league, it could also result in disciplinary penalties and criticism from some fans for putting his own interests above the team’s. That said, given his current form, he still holds market appeal in Europe or the US should he leave Saudi Arabia. For the league, standing firm will only escalate the conflict, while making concessions would disrupt its existing salary structure, and remaining silent is simply not a viable solution. The most ideal outcome, therefore, would be for both parties to return to the negotiating table: the league appropriately raises the offer and safeguards Benzema’s image rights, and Benzema ends his boycott and rejoins the team, a resolution that would benefit all sides involved.