Portuguese coach Pedro Emanuel, manager of Al-Fayha, sparked controversy after his team's 1-0 loss to Al-Shabab in their Saudi Professional League match. The coach's comments weren't limited to the defeat itself, but also included sharp criticism of the refereeing decisions, particularly regarding the amount of added time.
Details of Emmanuel's fiery statements
In the post-match press conference, Emmanuel expressed his strong disapproval of the seven minutes of added time. He said, “I don’t understand how they only added seven minutes. The game was frequently interrupted due to injuries and substitutions, and the time should have been much longer.” He added that he always urges his players to increase the actual playing time for the fans’ enjoyment, but the refereeing decisions don’t help achieve this, affecting the pace and outcome of the matches.
The context of the match and its importance in the Roshan League
This match comes at a critical time for both teams, who are striving to improve their positions in the Roshan League standings, which have witnessed fierce competition across all divisions this season. Before the match, the two teams were closely matched in points, making a win essential to distance themselves from the relegation zone. With this loss, Al-Fayha's points tally remains at 20, placing them in twelfth position, while Al-Shabab's points total rises to 22, moving them up to eleventh place, thus increasing the pressure on Emmanuel's team in the upcoming rounds.
The controversy surrounding wasted time: a global issue in football
Emanuel's comments highlight a global issue that has become a subject of widespread debate in the football world: "actual playing time." With new FIFA guidelines requiring precise calculation of stoppage time to curb deliberate time-wasting, extra time has become noticeably longer in major tournaments. The Portuguese coach's criticism of the limited, rather than excessive, amount of added time reflects his desire for a fair opportunity to make amends and opens the door to a broader discussion about the criteria for applying this rule in the Saudi League.
Well-deserved praise for the Al-Shabab goalkeeper
Despite his frustration with the refereeing, Pedro Emanuel didn't fail to praise the opposing team's performance. He admitted that his team wasn't at its best in the first half, with Al Shabab being the better side, but noted his players' improved performance in the second half and their control of the game. He concluded his remarks by singling out Al Shabab's Brazilian goalkeeper, Marcelo Grohe, saying, "Grohe deserves the Man of the Match award. He was an impenetrable wall, and his incredible saves were what decided the match in their favor.".
