The Brazilian coach of Al-Taawoun, Pericles Chamusca, expressed his dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions that took place in his team’s match against Al-Ittihad, specifically the incident of canceling the equalizing goal scored by Al-Taawoun against Al-Ittihad, in the match that brought the two teams together as part of the competitions of the thirteenth round of the Saudi Professional League.
In the post-match press conference, Chamusca highlighted the VAR intervention in disallowing the goal, describing the decision as "excessively strict." The Brazilian coach emphasized that such minute details often decide matches between top teams, adding that his team deserved a better result had it not been for the VAR's harsh ruling that prevented them from getting back into the game.
The impact of video technology and the competitiveness of the Roshan League
Shamouska's comments come at a time when the Saudi Professional League is experiencing tremendous growth and unprecedented global attention, placing refereeing decisions under intense scrutiny and analysis. Matches involving teams vying for a top-four finish, such as Al-Taawoun and Al-Ittihad, are particularly crucial, as every point directly impacts the league standings and qualification for Asian competitions. Analysts believe that the "strictness" Shamouska referred to reflects the immense pressure placed on referees to ensure accurate decisions in a league that has captured the world's attention.
Cooperation plans for the winter transfer window
Aside from the refereeing controversy, the Al-Taawoun coach addressed the team's future and the plans for the winter transfer window. Shamouska explained that he is in ongoing discussions with the club's management to strengthen the squad with quality signings, emphasizing that the goal is to elevate Al-Taawoun to a higher level, ensuring their continued competitiveness against top clubs packed with international stars.
The two teams' positions in the standings
The match ended in a 1-0 defeat for Al-Taawoun, leaving them with 28 points and maintaining their third-place position in the league standings, just one point behind second-placed Al-Hilal (who have a game in hand). This loss represents a setback in Al-Taawoun's impressive run this season, but the team remains a force to be reckoned with in the league, giving fans hope that coach Shamouska's promises of winter reinforcements will lead to a strong comeback in the upcoming rounds.
