Brazilian coach Pericles Chamusca, manager of Al-Taawoun FC, expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions in his team's match against Al-Khaleej, which ended in a 1-1 draw in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. In the post-match press conference, Chamusca asserted that the repeated refereeing errors directly impacted the team's league position and cost them valuable points in the race for a top spot.
The Brazilian coach began by praising his opponent, saying, “We faced a well-organized Al-Khaleej team, and we played a good match despite the challenges we face, such as the congested fixture schedule, which forces us to constantly focus on the players’ physical recovery.” He pointed out that clubs with large budgets and deep squads benefit the most from the busy schedule, while teams like Al-Taawoun suffer from this pressure more.
Background of the competition in the Roshan League
This draw comes at a crucial juncture in the 2023-2024 Saudi Professional League season, which is witnessing unprecedented competition with a constellation of international stars. Al-Taawoun, known as "The Sugar of Qassim," is having an exceptional season, considered the dark horse of the tournament, fiercely competing for a top-four finish and qualification for Asian competitions, outperforming clubs with greater financial resources. This outstanding performance has placed the team under immense pressure to maintain their positive results, making every point dropped significantly impactful on their ambitions.
The impact of arbitration decisions on Al-Taawoun's ambitions
Shamouska escalated his criticism of the refereeing, stating, “There’s a pattern of refereeing errors against us. In recent matches, three perfectly valid goals were disallowed, and these decisions have directly impacted our league position. This is causing us frustration and tension both on and off the pitch.” Shamouska’s comments highlight the ongoing debate surrounding the standard of refereeing and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the Saudi League, especially given the increased global attention the competition receives. Losing points due to judgment errors could cost a team like Al-Taawoun their dream of participating in the AFC Champions League, a historic achievement for the club and its fans.
Local and regional importance of the match
Domestically, this draw and Shamouska's statements have ignited a debate within Saudi sporting circles about the need to develop the refereeing system to ensure fairness among all competing clubs. Regionally, every result impacts the map of Saudi teams qualifying to represent the Kingdom in the AFC Champions League, the most prestigious club competition in the continent. As a result of this draw, Al-Taawoun secured fifth place in the Roshan League standings with 39 points, continuing their determined pursuit of a top-four finish.
