Brazilian midfielder Fabinho Tavares, a star player for Al-Ittihad, sparked widespread controversy with strong statements criticizing the refereeing decisions during the derby match between his team and Al-Nassr, in the 17th round of the Saudi Professional League. The match, which ended in a resounding 5-2 victory for Al-Nassr, saw several impactful refereeing decisions, most notably the penalty kick that resulted in his expulsion.
In his post-match comments, Fabinho expressed his outrage at the penalty awarded against him to Al-Nassr, which also resulted in his second yellow card and subsequent dismissal in the 66th minute. Fabinho stated, "The penalty awarded to Al-Nassr should have been reviewed by VAR; the referee shouldn't have given it so quickly." He added, clearly frustrated, "I'm very angry about this. It was a crucial decision that significantly altered the course of the match.".
The context of the match and its importance in the Roshan League
This match comes amidst an exceptional season for the Saudi Professional League, which has captured global attention with the presence of a constellation of international stars. The "Saudi Clasico" between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr is considered one of the most important and intense matches in Saudi football history, bringing together two of the Kingdom's most prestigious clubs. The significance of this encounter has been amplified this season by the presence of stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane in Al-Nassr's ranks, and Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and Fabinho in the ranks of Al-Ittihad, the defending champions.
The two teams entered the match with different motivations; Al-Nassr aimed to continue their pursuit of Al-Hilal for the top spot, while Al-Ittihad hoped to get back on track after a series of inconsistent results that had distanced them from the title race. The controversial refereeing decision not only affected the outcome of the match but also cast a shadow over the ongoing debate about the standard of refereeing and the use of VAR in major matches.
Expected impact and promise for the fans
Fabinho's statements are expected to spark widespread reactions in Saudi sporting circles and increase pressure on the referees' committee to improve performance and standardize the use of VAR to avoid impactful errors. Al-Nassr's victory in this match strengthened their hold on second place in the league, while the defeat compounded Al-Ittihad's woes and further distanced them from the leading teams.
Despite his anger at the result and the refereeing, Fabinho addressed the club's fans, saying: "We promise Al-Ittihad fans that we will improve our results in the coming period and place the team in a higher position in the Roshan Professional League standings this season." He concluded by thanking the fans for their tremendous support during the match, emphasizing the team's determination to bounce back strongly in the upcoming games.
