Youth protests against referee decisions in the Saudi League
Al-Shabab FC, one of the oldest clubs in Riyadh, reiterated its strong condemnation of what it described as "repeated refereeing errors" affecting the team's results in the Saudi Professional League. This protest came notably after the team's 1-0 loss to Al-Kholoud in the 21st round of the competition.
The club did not issue a new statement, but resorted to a symbolic step with a deep significance, as it republished a previous statement that it had issued to object to the refereeing, and this time attached to it a comment quoted from a famous verse by Al-Mutanabbi: “You have made yourself heard if you had called to the living… but there is no life in those you call to!!” in a clear indication of the feeling of the club’s management and its fans that their repeated complaints do not find listening ears with the refereeing committees and the Football Association.
Context of the crisis and historical background
The issue of refereeing errors is not a recent phenomenon in Saudi football; it's a recurring controversy that resurfaces with almost every round of matches. Despite the implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology several seasons ago, aimed at maximizing fairness and minimizing human error, the debate hasn't ceased. Instead, it has often shifted from on-field decisions to the application of the technology and the interpretation of situations by VAR officials. Al-Shabab, the six-time league champions, are enduring a difficult season, languishing in mid-table. Every point lost due to controversial refereeing decisions has a significant impact on player morale and the team's progress toward improving their position.
The importance of the protest and its expected impact
Al-Shabab's protest carries significant weight on several levels. Locally, this stance increases pressure on the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Referees Committee to review its performance and referee appointments in crucial matches, and perhaps even intensify training courses to improve the efficiency of refereeing teams. On a broader level, the recurrence of such protests from popular clubs like Al-Shabab could negatively impact the overall image of the Saudi Professional League, which is currently striving to become one of the world's best leagues by attracting international stars and investing heavily. Achieving fair refereeing and transparency in decisions is a cornerstone for the success of the Saudi sports project and for attracting more followers and investors. This loss places Al-Shabab in thirteenth place with 19 points, a position unbecoming of the club's history and the aspirations of its fans, making this recent media campaign an attempt to stem the points hemorrhage and safeguard the club's interests in the upcoming stages of the league.
