Jordanian refereeing expert, Ahmed Abu Khadija, settled the controversy surrounding one of the prominent refereeing cases in the Saudi football classic between Al-Nasr and Al-Ittihad clubs, confirming definitively the validity of the penalty kick awarded to Al-Nasr during the match that brought the two teams together in the Roshan Professional League competitions.
In an exclusive statement to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, Abu Khadija explained that the referee's decision was correct according to the laws of the game. He said, "Yes, it was a correct penalty kick for Al-Nassr." He justified his technical opinion by saying that the handball by the Al-Ittihad player was due to "an unnatural hand position and an enlarged body," two essential conditions for awarding a foul inside the penalty area according to the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game.
The general context of the match and its importance
This highly anticipated match took place at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, as part of the 17th round of the 2023-2024 Saudi Professional League, and held great importance for both teams. Al-Nassr, led by their global star Cristiano Ronaldo, aimed to continue putting pressure on league leaders Al-Hilal and reduce the points gap, while Al-Ittihad, the defending champions, led by Karim Benzema, were experiencing a period of inconsistent results and hoped to regain their form and return to the title race.
A history of competition and excitement
The matches between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad, known as the "Saudi Clasico," are among the strongest and most prestigious in the history of Saudi sports, with the rivalry between the two clubs stretching back decades. These encounters are always characterized by intense fan enthusiasm and high-level technical skill on the field. Refereeing decisions are often the focus of attention and a rich source of discussion and analysis in the media and among fans, adding another dimension of importance to any decision made by the officiating crew.
Impact of the decision and the result of the match
The match ended in a resounding 5-2 victory for Al-Nassr, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring two penalties, along with goals from Sadio Mane and Talisca. This win had a direct impact on the league standings, as Al-Nassr strengthened their hold on second place, closing the gap with Al-Hilal, while the defeat further complicated Al-Ittihad's title defense.
The opinion of arbitration expert Ahmed Abu Khadija puts a technical end to the controversy surrounding the validity of the decision, stressing that the modern technology represented by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) contributes to achieving justice, but the final assessment of the referee remains a crucial element, especially in cases of handball, which remain among the most complex cases in the world of arbitration.
