Jordanian refereeing expert Ahmed Abu Khadija has settled the widespread controversy that recently arose in Saudi sports circles, particularly in the Al-Midan Al-Riyadi newspaper, regarding the validity of the decision to send off Al-Ittihad goalkeeper, Bridzic Rajkovic, during the heated match between his team and Al-Ettifaq. This match was part of the sixteenth round of the Roshan Professional League and was held at Al-Inma Stadium in front of a large crowd.
In exclusive statements to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, Abu Khadija dispelled all doubt, saying: "The referee's decision to send off goalkeeper Bridzic Rajkovic was absolutely correct. Although the goalkeeper fell and lost his balance unintentionally, the law is clear in such cases; he handled the ball outside the penalty area." The refereeing expert added, explaining the legal basis for the decision: "Handling the ball in this position prevented a clear goal-scoring opportunity for Al-Ettifaq, which warrants a direct red card according to the Laws of the Game (DOGSO). Therefore, the referee's decision to award the foul and show the red card was entirely justified.".
The match witnessed dramatic events and strong and stormy objections from Al-Ittihad players and the technical staff led by Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, who strongly protested the referee's decisions, considering that the circumstances surrounding the goalkeeper's fall required greater flexibility, but the law does not protect the player in the event of committing a foul that prevents a certain goal, regardless of intentions or balance.
In terms of the result, Al-Ettifaq capitalized on their numerical advantage and the circumstances surrounding the match to secure a valuable 1-0 victory over Al-Ittihad. The lone goal of the game came courtesy of star player Khalid Al-Ghannam, who unleashed a superb and precise shot that found the back of the net past Serbian goalkeeper Rajkovic before he was substituted, earning his team three crucial points in the league campaign.
This incident is particularly significant given the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League this season, where every point directly impacts the battle for the top spot and Asian Champions League qualification. The Saudi league is currently under global scrutiny, attracting some of the world's biggest football stars, which places refereeing decisions under intense scrutiny from experts, analysts, and fans alike. Such specialized refereeing analyses underscore the importance of implementing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology and strictly adhering to the laws of the game to ensure fair competition in one of the strongest leagues in the Arab world and the Middle East.
Al-Ittihad's loss in this round and the repercussions of the expulsion of their starting goalkeeper may cast a shadow on coach Conceição's technical arrangements in the upcoming rounds, putting the team under pressure to quickly compensate in order to appease its large fan base and remain in contention for the title.
