Refereeing expert: Al-Hilal's goal against Al-Riyadh was illegitimate and Timbuktu's tackle was reckless

Al-Hilal's first goal against Al-Riyadh in the 18th round of the Saudi Professional League sparked widespread controversy in sporting circles following fiery statements by an international refereeing expert. In detailing the incident that captivated the sporting public, Tariq Sami, a refereeing consultant for the newspaper Okaz, asserted that Al-Hilal's goal was illegitimate, basing his analysis on a clear foul that occurred prior to the goal.

Sami described Al-Hilal defender Hassan Tambakti's challenge on Al-Riyadh player Osama Al-Bawardi as "reckless." The refereeing expert explained his technical analysis of the incident, saying, "The foul committed by Hassan Tambakti, which led to the attack and the goal, is a clear and undeniable foul. The Al-Hilal player committed a direct foul that contributed to the build-up of the attack and the goal. Therefore, the correct decision would have been to award a direct free kick to Al-Riyadh and issue a yellow card to Al-Hilal player Hassan Tambakti for the recklessness and danger he posed with his strong challenge on the opponent moments before the goal was scored.".

At Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh, the match ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw. Al-Hilal took the lead in the 26th minute through their professional player, Marcus Leonardo, a goal that was marred by refereeing controversy. Al-Riyadh then equalized in the 58th minute thanks to a shot from Ibrahim Bayesh, securing a valuable point against the league leaders.

This match takes on particular significance given the overall context of the Saudi League competition this season. Al-Hilal aims to maintain its dominance and widen the gap at the top of the standings, currently holding 45 points. Conversely, this draw represents a morale-boosting and technical victory for Al-Riyadh, who are battling relegation. It raises their points tally to 11, placing them 16th and strengthening their hopes of escaping the threat of relegation and remaining in the top flight.

This refereeing controversy reflects the immense pressure faced by officiating crews in the Saudi Professional League, especially given the competition's rapid development and global reach. While controversial decisions remain an integral part of football's excitement, calls are constantly growing for a more precise return to Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to ensure fair competition, particularly in matches that could determine the title race or the relegation battle.