The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is taking a heavy toll on sporting activities across the region and beyond.
Several events have been cancelled, and thousands of flights disrupted at some of the world’s busiest transit hubs.
Media reports early Tuesday suggested that Al Nassr and Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo had unexpectedly left Riyadh for Madrid amid escalating tensions with Iran.
However, Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano later confirmed that the 41-year-old former Real Madrid forward remains in Riyadh, receiving treatment for an injury sustained during last weekend’s fixture.
Romano posted on his X handle that the earlier reports were false.
Meanwhile, play at the Fujairah Tennis Challenger in the UAE was halted abruptly on Tuesday due to a security alert and later cancelled for the day.
Authorities in Fujairah extinguished a fire caused by debris following the interception of a drone over the oil industry zone.
Russian players Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who participated in last week’s Dubai Tennis Championships, are facing challenges reaching California for the Indian Wells Open due to flight cancellations.
All sporting events in Iran have been suspended until further notice, including the Persian Gulf Pro League, while Asian Champions League Elite matches scheduled across the Middle East on Monday and Tuesday were postponed.
In Qatar, all league matches have been indefinitely postponed, casting doubt over the March 27 clash between Spain and Argentina in Doha.
The Middle Eastern F1 races are also under question, and the West Indies and Zimbabwe cricket teams have delayed their return from India following the Twenty20 World Cup.
As the conflict continues, sporting calendars across the Middle East and beyond remain uncertain, with players, fans, and organisers left navigating unprecedented disruptions.
