The match between Al-Hilal and Neom, held as part of the sixteenth round of the Roshan Professional League, witnessed a wide-ranging refereeing controversy regarding the right of Algerian star Said Benrahma, a Neom player, to receive a penalty kick during the exciting half that brought the two teams together at Neom Stadium.
In this context, Jordanian refereeing expert Ahmed Abu Khadija settled the controversy in an exclusive statement to "Al-Midan Al-Riyadi," confirming that the claims for a penalty kick in favor of the home team were unfounded. Abu Khadija explained the details of the incident between Benrahma and Al-Hilal defender Pablo Mari, indicating that what happened falls under the category of normal competitive play in football.
Abu Khadija said in his analysis of the situation: “Neyom did not deserve a penalty kick in Pablo Mari’s tackle on Said Benrahma; the footage clearly shows that there was a physical challenge between the players that did not rise to the level of a foul that warranted a whistle. The holding was mutual between the two in the context of the struggle for the ball, and therefore the referee’s decision to continue play and not award the penalty kick was a sound decision and in accordance with the laws of the game.”.
On the other hand, the match was not without its crucial refereeing decisions, as the referee awarded a penalty kick to Al-Hilal after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). The decision came after a clear holding of Al-Hilal defender Hassan Tambakti by Neom player Fares Abdi, which the referee deemed a clear foul warranting punishment. This decision contributed to changing the course of the match, the current score of which is 2-1 in favor of Al-Hilal.
This match takes on particular importance in the context of the fierce competition witnessed in the Roshan Professional League this season. Al-Hilal seeks to consolidate its lead and continue its winning streak, while NEOM FC attempts to prove its worth and challenge the top teams, capitalizing on home advantage and fan support. These refereeing decisions once again highlight the role of VAR and the sensitivity of decisions in major matches that attract large audiences both locally and across the Arab world.
It is worth noting that the Saudi Professional League has become the focus of the world’s attention, which puts referees under great pressure to ensure refereeing fairness, especially in light of the presence of an elite group of international football stars in the ranks of Saudi clubs, which makes every refereeing decision subject to careful analysis and extensive discussion by experts and fans alike.
