Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, manager of the first football team at Al-Ittihad Club, made a major surprise after the end of his team’s match against Damac, revealing a conversation that took place between him and the coach of the opposing team regarding the style of play followed during the match that brought them together in the fifteenth round of the Roshan Professional League competition.
In a fiery statement during the post-match press conference held at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Al-Mahalah, Conceição asserted that the Damac coach had openly admitted to him that they were employing a "time-wasting" tactic. The Portuguese coach stated, "The Damac coach confessed to me that his team's strategy during the match was primarily based on adding to and wasting time, which they implemented on the pitch, resulting in a significant loss of actual playing time in this important Roshan League match.".
Tension with refereeing and a historical complex
The drama of the match didn't end with the final whistle. The game was marked by noticeable tension and a strong outburst from Sergio Conceição towards referee Khaled Al-Turais. The Al-Ittihad coach's anger stemmed from what he perceived as leniency in dealing with repeated time-wasting tactics, which contributed to the match ending in a draw – a result that doesn't serve Al-Ittihad's ambitions of competing for the league title.
This match highlights Al-Ittihad's persistent struggles in Abha, particularly against Damac FC. The Jeddah-based team failed once again to break their winless streak at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Stadium, extending their winless run to seven matches at this challenging venue. This raises serious questions about the team's mental preparedness when playing in the southern highlands.
The impact of the result on the competition in the Roshan League
These statements take on particular significance given the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League this season. Dropping two points in the title race is a major blow to any team vying for the top spot, especially considering the high level of performance displayed by rival clubs. Mid-table teams often resort to time-wasting tactics against top sides to disrupt the flow of the game and limit the effectiveness of star players, a tactic Damac executed brilliantly, much to the chagrin of their Portuguese coach.
Conceição’s statements are expected to spark widespread debate in sporting circles about fair play standards and actual match time, an issue that has long troubled fans and officials in global and local football alike, which may prompt the referees’ committee to focus more on calculating stoppage time more accurately in the upcoming rounds.
