Egyptian refereeing expert Mahmoud El-Banna has settled the controversy surrounding the red card shown to Al-Ittihad defender Hassan Kadash during the Saudi Clasico against Al-Hilal in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. In exclusive statements to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, El-Banna confirmed that the referee's decision was 100% correct, based on the clear laws of football in such cases.
Details of the refereeing situation and the rules of the game
Al-Banna explained that the decision to send off Hassan Kadash met all the necessary criteria for a direct red card. He said, “The decision to send off Hassan Kadash was correct. The four conditions for a direct red card in the case of denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity were met.” He elaborated, “Al-Hilal’s Brazilian striker, Malcom, was through on goal when an Al-Ittihad defender clearly obstructed him, preventing him from completing the attack and scoring. Since Kadash was the last defender on the field, the referee’s decision to issue the red card was a correct application of the law.”.
The general context of the match and its importance
This match comes amidst fierce competition, as the "Saudi Clasico" between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad is considered one of the strongest and most prestigious rivalries in the history of Saudi and Asian football. Al-Hilal enters the match at the top of the league table with a comfortable lead and seeks to continue its historic winning streak, while Al-Ittihad, the defending champion, is trying to improve its position and return to competing for the top spots after an inconsistent season. The red card directly affected the course of the match, which was held at the Kingdom Arena, as Al-Ittihad was forced to finish the game with ten men, making it more difficult for them against Al-Hilal's powerful attack.
Expected impact and outcome of the decision
The numerical disadvantage played a decisive role in Al-Hilal's dominance of the match, enabling them to score goals and secure a crucial victory that solidified their lead in the league. Domestically, this result increases the pressure on Al-Ittihad and their coach, while giving Al-Hilal a significant morale boost in their quest for the title. Regionally and internationally, such refereeing decisions in a league followed by millions worldwide, thanks to the presence of world-class players, put Saudi refereeing under intense scrutiny and underscore the importance of the accurate implementation of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to ensure fairness and minimize impactful errors that could alter the course of major tournaments.
