German coach Matthias Jäissle, manager of the Al-Ahli Saudi football club, expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions in his team's match against Al-Fayha, specifically the sending off of Brazilian defender Roger Ibañez. This came during the post-match press conference following the game, which was part of the twelfth round of the Saudi Professional League and was held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (The Shining Jewel) in Jeddah.
Yassle defends his defensive leader
In his statements to the media, Jääsle asserted that the red card shown to Ibañez was an "incorrect" and unfair decision against both the player and the team. The German coach said, "Certainly, Roger Ibañez's sending off in the Al-Fayha match represents a significant loss for us. He's not just a player; he's a key element with tremendous technical and physical abilities, and he's the de facto leader of our defense. His absence will be very impactful, especially as we have a crucial match against Al-Nassr coming up in the next round.".
Yaisle added, questioning the absence of video technology to correct the course: "Ibanez's dismissal was completely undeserved, and the referee should have reviewed and cancelled the decision, but I really don't know the reason behind the insistence on this decision that deprives us of his services.".
The impact of the absence on Al-Nassr's classic
Yassleh's statements take on added significance given the timing of this suspension; Al-Ahli is preparing for a fiery "classic" match against its traditional rival, Al-Nassr. Matches between Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr are among the most anticipated in Saudi football, attracting a massive following both locally and across the Arab world. Ibanez's absence presents a significant tactical challenge for Al-Ahli's coaching staff, given the strength of Al-Nassr's attack, packed with international stars. This puts Al-Ahli's defense to a difficult test in compensating for this numerical and qualitative shortage in the back line.
Competition context of the Roshan League
This refereeing controversy comes at a time when the Saudi Professional League is witnessing fierce competition for top positions, with the Public Investment Fund clubs (Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli) striving to accumulate as many points as possible to secure a title or Asian Champions League qualification. Every point and every available player is crucial given the congested schedule and the closely matched skill levels of the teams.
It is worth noting that Al-Ahli managed to overcome Al-Fayha’s obstacle and win with a score of two goals to nil despite the numerical disadvantage, thus earning three valuable points in their league campaign. However, the joy of victory was marred by concern about the impact of the absence of the Brazilian defensive rock in the upcoming anticipated match.
