Refereeing analysis of the Al-Ahli vs. Damac match: Will Ivan Toni face suspension?
The match between Al-Ahli and Damac, held at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Al-Mahalah, witnessed widespread controversy surrounding the refereeing decisions, despite Al-Ahli's 1-0 victory. Refereeing experts raised serious concerns about the on-field referee's decisions, prompting calls for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee to intervene and impose strict penalties for certain misconduct during the match.
Al-Mirdasi's analysis: Correct decisions and disastrous mistakes
In his technical analysis of the match, refereeing expert Fahad Al-Mirdasi confirmed that the decision to disallow Damac's goal in stoppage time (94th minute) was entirely correct, thus saving the match from a draw. However, during his appearance on the "Our Club" program, Al-Mirdasi pointed out that the refereeing team overlooked crucial disciplinary decisions that could have changed the course of the game.
Al-Mirdasi explained that the match witnessed incidents warranting straight red cards for Al-Ahli players, namely English striker Ivan Toni and Ali Majrashi, in the 63rd and 84th minutes respectively. The refereeing expert stressed the need for the Disciplinary Committee to take a firm stance regarding the altercation between Ivan Toni and Damac player Jamal Harkas, describing the incident as "disgraceful behavior" that tarnishes the reputation of the Saudi Professional League (the Roshan League), which has become the focus of global attention.
Al-Qahtani is basing his argument on Article 12 and demanding intervention
For his part, former referee and "Our League" program analyst Abdullah Al-Qahtani reinforced the calls for punishment, asserting that the altercation between Toni and Harkas clearly falls under the category of "misconduct" warranting a direct red card. Al-Qahtani cited the relevant regulations, indicating that this incident aligns with Article 12, thus opening the door for the Disciplinary Committee to review the video footage and issue retroactive disciplinary sanctions to ensure fairness and the application of the law.
The context of competition and the impact of potential sanctions
These demands take on particular significance given the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League, where clubs are striving to maintain their points advantage. Ivan Toni is a key player in Al-Ahli's attack, and any suspension could severely disrupt coach Mathias Jääsle's plans for the upcoming rounds. These events come at a time of tremendous development in Saudi football, which increases the responsibility on referees and committees to ensure matches are conducted with the highest standards of sportsmanship.
It is worth noting that the match was characterized by high competitiveness, as Damac tried hard to come back in the second half, but Al-Ahli’s solid defense secured the three points, strengthening the team’s position in the standings, while Damac’s points remained frozen, pending the outcome of the Disciplinary Committee’s reports in the coming days.
