Donis attacks the referee of the Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Khaleej match with a sarcastic statement
In fiery statements that sparked widespread controversy in Saudi sports circles, Greek coach Giorgos Donis, manager of Al-Khaleej FC, expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions in his team's match against Al-Ittihad. The match, held at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah as part of the 24th round of the Saudi Professional League, ended with Al-Ittihad winning 1-0, but the refereeing decisions overshadowed the match's outcome.
Details of the controversial cases and Donis's anger
The experienced Saudi football coach didn't hesitate to launch a scathing attack on the refereeing team, asserting that his team suffered a clear injustice that prevented them from achieving a positive result. Donis specifically pointed to two pivotal incidents: the first being a penalty kick that his team deserved but wasn't awarded, and the second concerning the red card that should have been shown to Al-Ittihad's Brazilian midfielder, Fabinho. Donis's sarcastic and veiled comment encapsulated his frustration, as he said in the press conference: "I hope the referee sleeps well tonight," clearly indicating that the decisions made couldn't go unnoticed by the referee's conscience.
The context of the competition and the development of the Roshan League
These statements come at a time when the Saudi Professional League (the Roshan League) is undergoing a historic transformation on all fronts, whether technical, organizational, or marketing. With the influx of international stars and the heightened competitiveness, the spotlight has been intensely focused on referee performance, with every whistle now subject to scrutiny and analysis by experts and fans both locally and internationally. Matches involving major teams like Al-Ittihad take on added importance, placing referees under immense pressure to make the right decisions in fractions of a second.
Donis's experience and accumulated anger
It's worth noting that Giorgos Donis is no stranger to Saudi football, having previously coached Al-Hilal, Al-Wehda, and Al-Fateh, making him an expert on the intricacies of local competitions. His current frustration doesn't seem to be a spontaneous reaction or solely related to the Al-Ittihad match; the coach alluded to past grievances, suggesting that results in previous matches, including the game against Neom, were deliberately altered. This connection reflects a feeling within Al-Khaleej's coaching staff that a pattern of adverse decisions is impacting the team's performance and its ambitions in the league standings.
Expected impact and message from the Gulf
Despite the bitterness evident in his remarks, the Greek coach was keen to emphasize his team's professionalism and respect for the sporting system, stressing that Al-Khaleej's identity is based on playing beautiful and combative football. Such statements often aim to protect the team's rights in upcoming rounds and highlight the need to raise the standard of refereeing to keep pace with the tremendous development Saudi sports are experiencing, ensuring fair competition among all clubs, whether they are vying for the title or striving to improve their mid-table positions.
