Damac FC statement against the refereeing after the Al-Ahli match in the Roshan League
The Damac FC administration issued an official statement expressing its strong dissatisfaction with what it described as significant refereeing errors during the first team's match against Al-Ahli in the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League. The administration asserted in its statement that the refereeing decisions were not mere errors of judgment, but rather decisive factors that directly contributed to altering the outcome of the match and depriving the team of its legitimate rights on the field.
The southern club explained in its statement that the match witnessed numerous controversial incidents, most notably the disallowance of two goals for Damac due to alleged fouls. The club's management considered these decisions unfair and inaccurate. Furthermore, the referee overlooked clear fouls resulting from excessive roughness by the opposing team's players, endangering the safety of Damac's players and disrupting the flow of the game. The management indicated that these points could have altered the course of the match and improved the team's position in the league standings.
These demands come amidst the intense competition in the Saudi Professional League this season, where every point is crucial given the presence of world-class players and the rising technical level of the clubs. Damac's management understands that dropping points due to refereeing decisions could negatively impact the team's performance and its aspirations to secure a comfortable mid-table position or compete for top spots, especially since the league enjoys global attention, requiring refereeing standards to keep pace with the tremendous development in the technical and organizational aspects of the competition.
On the administrative front, Damac FC's management has requested that the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's refereeing committee open an investigation into the match, thoroughly and transparently review all controversial incidents, and work diligently to prevent such errors in future rounds. They also emphasized the importance of assigning upcoming matches to highly qualified and experienced refereeing teams capable of handling the pressures of high-stakes games, thus ensuring a level playing field for all competing clubs.
At the end of the statement, the club’s management confirmed its intention to submit an official letter, supported by evidence and video footage, to the relevant authorities, demanding clear explanations regarding the decisions taken, while emphasizing at the same time its initial support for the Saudi referee, provided that this is accompanied by justice and fairness, as the club does not look at the name of the referee or his nationality as much as it seeks its right to a fair competition free from influential errors.
