JEDDAH – Cosmin Olaroiu of Romania, head coach of Al-Hilal, was fired and ordered out of the country, less than 24 hours after he led his team to lift Crown Prince Cup in Riyadh Friday.
In a statement issued by Saudi Press Agency (SPA), President of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare and head of the Saudi Football Federation Prince Sultan Bin Fahd took the decision following unacceptable behavior by the coach after the final.
“The Saudi Football Federation has decided to suspend Al-Hilal coach Cosmin Olaroiu of Romania and not allow him to coach inside Saudi Arabia in the future due to his unacceptable behavior after the final of the Crown Prince Cup,” the federation said.
The decision was based on the Arab Radio and Television (ART) shots which showed the coach throwing the shirt he was wearing that carried the picture of Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz.
The story began when Al-Hilal coach tried to take his full team to the main podium to celebrate their victory but one of the stadium’s private security officer allowed just the main squad and refused the entire team.
Olaroiu, 39, clashed with the security officer before he left for the players room throwing his shirt onto the ground in front of television cameras.
In another statement issued by Prince Fahd Bin Salman from Media Center of Al-Hilal Club, Olaroiu apologized for what he did after the final. “I am really sorry, I did not mean it and I did not know that there was a picture of Crown Prince printed on the shirt as I was very tired and nervous,” Cosmin said.
He added, “If I have a word to say I would like to express my deep warm feelings to Saudi people and to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz and thank you all.”
Olaroiu came to Saudi Arabia in 2008 and he led Al-Hilal to win the Crown Prince Cup and the Saudi Premier League before he defended the Crown Prince Cup with a 1-0 over Al-Shabab last Friday.