In a crucial match in the Saudi Professional League, refereeing expert Ahmed Abu Khadija settled the controversy surrounding the validity of Al-Hilal's disallowed goal against Al-Ahli. In an exclusive statement to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, Abu Khadija confirmed that the referee's decision was 100% correct, noting that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology unequivocally supported the on-field decision.
Details of the arbitration case and its impact
Abu Khadija explained that the goal was disallowed due to a clear offside by Al-Hilal's Brazilian player, Malcom Felipe. He said, "The offside call was correct by the referee. Malcom Felipe's foot was ahead of the post when the ball was passed, bypassing the second-to-last Al-Ahli defender, Rayan Hamed. Therefore, the referee's decision to disallow the goal was correct." This incident was the focus of discussion among fans and pundits after the match, as the goal could have changed the course of the game and potentially impacted the title race.
Historical context and the importance of "El Clásico"
The Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ahli match is one of the most prominent and intense in Saudi football, known in the media as "The Classic." The rivalry between the two teams spans decades, and their matches are always highly competitive and draw large crowds, as evidenced by the attendance of 23,632 spectators at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. This season's match takes on added significance due to the significant development of the Saudi Professional League and its attraction of international stars, placing every refereeing decision under intense local and international scrutiny.
Impact of the result on the race for the lead
The match ended in a goalless draw, a result that directly impacted the standings of the top teams. With this point, Al-Hilal increased their tally to 47, maintaining their lead, but by a very narrow margin of just one point over their closest rivals, Al-Nassr. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli strengthened their hold on third place with 44 points, keeping their title hopes alive. The disallowed goal has kept the title race wide open and unpredictable in the upcoming rounds, adding to the excitement of this increasingly popular league.
The match also witnessed the debut of young French striker Mohamed Kader Meiti with Al-Hilal, who was recently signed from French club Stade Rennais, in a move aimed at strengthening the attacking force of the leader in its local and continental competitions.
