Veteran Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels, who guards the net for Al-Qadisiyah, sparked controversy with fiery statements following his team's thrilling 2-2 draw against league leaders Al-Hilal. In the match, held at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium as part of the 19th round of the Saudi Professional League, the result itself wasn't the main event; rather, it was the refereeing decisions that cast a shadow over the game.
Background and significance of the confrontation
This match comes amidst an exceptional season for the Saudi Professional League, which has garnered global attention thanks to its attraction of international stars. Al-Hilal, as the defending champions and current league leaders, enters every match as the favorite, aiming to maintain their unbeaten record and extend their lead. Meanwhile, Al-Qadisiyah, newly promoted to the Professional League, represents a new ambition, bolstered by significant investments and high-profile signings such as goalkeeper Castilles and Uruguayan star Nahitan Nández, making their encounters with the top teams a true test of their competitiveness.
Castilles' statements and criticism of the refereeing
Speaking to the official broadcaster after the match, Castilles made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the refereeing team's performance, directly accusing them of making significant errors. Castilles said, "Mohammed Kanno deserved a straight red card in the first half for his violent tackle on my teammate Nahitan Nandez. We don't know why the referee didn't consult VAR to make the correct decision and issue the red card, which would have completely changed the course of the match.".
The Belgian goalkeeper did not stop there, but also questioned the legitimacy of Al-Hilal’s second goal, adding: “Before Al-Hilal’s second goal, the referee awarded a foul against us with a completely incorrect decision. The ball warranted a corner kick in our favor. If the refereeing decisions had been different and fair, the result of the match would certainly have been different.”.
The expected impact of the controversy and the outcome
These statements are expected to spark widespread debate in Saudi sporting circles regarding the standard of refereeing and the accuracy of VAR. In a league of this size and competitiveness, refereeing errors, if any, have a significant impact on the course of the championship. For Al-Qadisiyah, securing a point against Al-Hilal represents a major achievement, boosting the team's confidence and confirming their status as a formidable opponent. For Al-Hilal, however, the draw is an unexpected setback that could give their rivals hope of closing the gap.
It is worth mentioning that Quinn Castilles delivered a heroic performance during the match, as he was an impenetrable barrier against Al-Hilal's attack and brilliantly saved a penalty kick, confirming his quality as one of the best goalkeepers in the league and directly contributing to his team coming away with a valuable point.
