Jordanian refereeing expert Ahmed Abu Khadija has settled the widespread controversy surrounding the refereeing decisions in the intense match between Al-Ahli and Neom, part of the 18th round of the Saudi Professional League. The match, held at King Khalid Sports City Stadium in Tabuk, witnessed several pivotal refereeing incidents that sparked extensive debate among fans and sports analysts.
Details of the controversial penalty kick incident
In an exclusive interview with Al-Midan Al-Riyadi newspaper, Abu Khadija explained the legal opinion regarding Neom players' penalty claim during the first half. The incident stemmed from a powerful shot by veteran Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazi, captain of Neom, which struck the hand of Al-Ahli defender Rayan Hamed. The refereeing expert confirmed that the referee's decision not to award a penalty was entirely correct according to the updated Laws of the Game as amended by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Abu Khadija explained his opinion, saying: “The ball first hit the head of player Ryan Hamed and then moved to his hand. In this case, the handball is considered unintentional, as the law clearly states that if the ball bounces off the player’s body or head to his hand, there is no violation, and therefore continuing the game was the correct decision.”.
The validity of the decision to expel Khalifa Al-Dosari
Regarding the second pivotal incident in the match, the refereeing expert upheld the referee's decision to show a red card to Al-Ahli player Khalifa Al-Dossari. Abu Khadija pointed out that the situation met the criteria for a direct red card, as the opposing striker was in a clear one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, meaning there was a "dodgy goal-scoring opportunity" (DOGSO). He added, "The player was through on goal, and the opportunity was clear for Al-Ahli to score. Therefore, the tackle warranted a red card to prevent a certain goal, and it was a sound refereeing decision.".
Match context and the impact of the result
This match comes at a time of fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League for top positions, with Al-Ahli (the Royal Club) striving to solidify its place in the standings and secure an Asian Champions League spot, leveraging its roster of international stars. The current scoreline indicates a resounding 3-0 victory for Al-Ahli, reflecting the team's superior technical ability and high level of preparedness in this round.
On the other hand, NEOM FC is one of the Kingdom's most ambitious sports projects, having bolstered its ranks with big names like Ahmed Hegazi, aiming to compete strongly and prove itself against the top Saudi clubs. Matches held in Tabuk have a special atmosphere, attracting large crowds, which increases the pressure on referees to make accurate decisions, especially with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system now an integral part of fair competition in Saudi football.
