The loss suffered by the Neom team against Al-Ahli Club by a score of three goals to nil, within the framework of the eighteenth round of the Saudi Roshan League, has sparked widespread controversy, especially after the statements made by Neom player, Islam Hawsawi, in which he directed accusations to the refereeing crew of managing the match unfairly.
In statements to the “Thamania” channel network after the match, Hawsawi expressed his deep dissatisfaction, saying: “The referee wronged us on more than one occasion and did not consult VAR, unlike what happened with Al-Ahli players .” He added that the refereeing decisions directly affected the course of the match and its outcome, indicating that his team deserved fairer treatment from the on-field referee.
Background of the match and its impact on the league standings
The two teams entered the match with contrasting objectives. Al-Ahli, making a strong return to the top flight and one of the Kingdom's historic clubs, aimed to compete for a top spot in the standings, while NEOM, representing one of the world's largest future projects, aspired to establish itself among the elite clubs and achieve a position befitting its ambitions. The match witnessed an early turning point when the referee awarded Al-Ahli a penalty, which they successfully converted. Shortly after, a NEOM player was sent off, forcing the team to play most of the match with ten men. This numerical disadvantage made it difficult for NEOM to get back into the game and gave Al-Ahli the advantage, who capitalized on the situation and added two more goals.
The importance of the event and its repercussions
Domestically, this result saw NEOM FC drop to tenth place in the Roshan League standings, increasing the pressure on the team to improve their performance in upcoming rounds. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli solidified their position in the top four, continuing their pursuit of the title or a spot in Asian competitions. Hawsawi's statements have opened the door to widespread discussions in sporting and media circles regarding the standard of refereeing in the Saudi League, especially given the growing global interest in the competition. The debate surrounding the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is not new, but it takes on particular significance in a league featuring international stars, where any controversial refereeing decision can garner international media attention and impact the tournament's reputation. This incident is expected to elicit a response from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Referees Committee, either through clarification of the refereeing decisions or by taking measures to ensure the improvement of refereeing performance in the future.
