Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad football club has ended its relationship with Chilean Luis Luis Jimenez, ending a turbulent relationship between them, ranging from criticism from fans to hints of receiving death threats.
The federation's administration announced on Twitter, early Wednesday, "the termination of the contract with the first-team football player Luis Jimenez."
The decision came hours after Al Ittihad's 3-1 defeat by Al Hilal, and subsequently eliminated from the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League, after the two teams drew in the first leg.
But Jimenez, 35, who joined the club this summer from Chilean club Deportivo Palestino, founded by Palestinian immigrants in 1920, has had problems with fans from the start.
The player was criticized by fans, as did the Chilean coach Jose Sierra, who hired him. But the criticism culminated in the match against Dhamak in the third round of the Saudi league last week, which ended with the team's first loss of the season (1-2).