October 18 – Belgian amateur club KFC Diest have partnered with Saudi investor Fahad Al-Medlej, who previously chaired second-division club Al-Faisaly.
In a statement, the club said: “KFC Diest proudly announces the addition of Fahad Al-Medlej to the board. This partnership aims to improve the quality of youth training at the local level and take the club’s infrastructure to the next level. We are convinced that this collaboration will also have a positive impact on the local economy.”
Diest won’t be the first Belgian club with Saudi ties. Second-tier club Beerschot form a part of United World Holding, led by Saudi Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad, who invested in the Antwerp-based club in 2018.
It won’t be the first time either that a Belgian amateur club has foreign investors with a Turkish takeover at Eendracht Aalst, Americans at Rupel-Boom, Jamaicans at Visé and N’golo Kanté at Excelsior Virton. Wezet and Olympique Charleroi also have foreign investors.
“This collaboration will bring about enormous changes for KFC Diest’s youth development. Investment will be made to improve the club’s infrastructure, such as renovating the training facilities and upgrading the entire environment,” said the club.
“Investment will also be made in the training of trainers and coaches, so that they can increase their knowledge and better guide the players.”
Last month, the Flemish parliament debated the influx of foreign investors in the amateur game with some politicians issuing warnings that it would not necessarily be good for domestic football.
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