Damac FC issued an official statement expressing its deep dissatisfaction and regret regarding what it described as "influential refereeing errors" that occurred during the first team's match against Al-Ahli FC, which took place as part of the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League. The statement emphasized that these errors directly impacted the match result, which ended in a 2-2 draw, thus depriving the team of a well-deserved victory and three valuable points in their league campaign.
Details of the errors and the club's demands
In its statement, Damac FC explained that the controversial refereeing decisions included the cancellation of two legitimate goals for the team due to alleged fouls, as well as overlooking repeated instances of rough play by opposing players without taking the necessary disciplinary action. The club's management believes these decisions deprived the team of points that could have strengthened its position in the standings, negatively impacting its legitimate ambitions and the aspirations of its fans, who have been strongly supporting the team this season.
General context and importance of competition in the Roshan League
This protest comes at a time when the Saudi Professional League is experiencing unprecedented global attention, having attracted major international stars. This has raised the level of competition and increased pressure on all aspects of the game, especially refereeing. With the growing media and fan interest, every match and every refereeing decision is under intense scrutiny, as a single mistake can alter the course of an entire team in what is considered one of the strongest seasons in Saudi football history. Striving to establish fairness and equal opportunities for all clubs is a fundamental pillar for the success of the ambitious sports project adopted by the Kingdom.
Expected impact and next steps
This statement is expected to spark widespread controversy in Saudi sporting circles and places a significant responsibility on the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's refereeing committee to review the incidents and take appropriate action. Damac FC announced that it will submit a formal letter of protest to the refereeing committee, supported by all the incidents it believes affected the match result, demanding a clear explanation of the decisions made. The club also stressed the need to prevent such errors from recurring in the future and emphasized the importance of assigning competent and experienced referees to officiate the remaining crucial matches of the competition.
In closing, the club affirmed its full support for Saudi referees, clarifying that its objection is to the errors themselves and not to the identity or nationality of the referee, based on its commitment to upholding the principles of justice and integrity that should prevail in sports competitions to guarantee the rights of all competing clubs.
