Saudi League vs Premier League: Why Tony's Words Caused a Scandal.

Can the Saudi League Compete with the Premier League?

According to The Sun: Ivan Toney's statement that the Saudi Super League is 'on par' with the Premier League surprised many.

The England international even noted that his Al-Ahli team would finish 'close to the top four' in the Premier League.

Ivan Toney believes his Al-Ahli team will finish 'close to the top four' in the Premier League Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images Cristiano Ronaldo expressed the opinion that the Saudi League is on par with the best in Europe Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images Karen Brady states that the Saudi League will not reach Premier League level for a long time David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images

Does the League Have a Future?

Ronaldo believes that the Saudi League can compete with European championships. But such opinions raise many questions.

Players have the right to choose where to play, and if Saudi Arabia offers a good salary, why not? However, comparing the Saudi League with the best football leagues in the world is, to put it mildly, an exaggeration.

Undoubtedly, a league attracting stars like Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, and others cannot be entirely without prospects. However, most of these players are already in the decline of their careers.

Al-Hilal defeated Manchester City in the World Cup, but it's hard to take that victory seriously, as Guardiola's team likely did not approach the game with full seriousness.

The Saudi League still lacks significant popularity even in its own country. The average attendance for its matches last season was only 8,354 spectators — less than in Ukraine's League One.

Toney acknowledges that his team also does not have a large number of spectators, but assures that it does not matter. He said:

“It doesn’t matter whether there are fans — ten, 10,000, or 20,000.”

However, it is hard to agree that a player would prefer playing in front of empty stands rather than in a packed arena.

Over time, with substantial investments, the Saudi League may reach a level deserving of respect. Toney has the right to his opinion, but the facts remain unchanged — the Saudi League has ambitions and stars but will still take a long time to catch up with the Premier League.