Rodgers criticizes refereeing after Al-Qadisiyah vs. Al-Hilal match in the Roshan League
The 19th round of the Saudi Professional League witnessed a fiery encounter between Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Hilal, which ended in widespread controversy surrounding the refereeing decisions, casting a shadow over the post-match press conference. Al-Qadisiyah's first-team coach, Rodgers, expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the refereeing performance, believing that the referee's decisions negatively impacted the course of the game and deprived his team of a well-deserved victory.
In his fiery remarks during the press conference, Rodgers said, “We played a great, tactically astute match, and we managed to trouble a team the size of Al-Hilal, packed with stars. But unfortunately, the referee was very poor and failed to manage the game well; his incorrect decisions affected both us and Al-Hilal.” The coach added, his voice filled with regret, “I am extremely disappointed to have lost the two points. We were the closest to winning, but we have important matches ahead, and we will work hard to make up for what we lost and continue competing.”.
On the other hand, Al-Hilal coach Inzaghi adopted a more composed tone, praising the strength of the opponent and the difficulty of the match. Inzaghi stated, "We played a great match and delivered an outstanding performance against a strong and well-organized team. We mustn't forget that Al-Qadisiyah entered the match on a seven-game winning streak, which reflects their quality." Inzaghi then addressed administrative and technical matters, saying, "Regarding transfers, the Al-Hilal management is working excellently and professionally, providing full support to the team. As for the strikers, it's not necessary for a striker to always score. We rely on teamwork, and our primary and ultimate goal is to win." He also settled the debate about the team's primary penalty taker, confirming that Portuguese player Ruben Neves is the designated specialist, followed by star player Salem Al-Dawsari.
These statements come at a time when the Saudi league is experiencing unprecedented sporting activity, with the world's attention focused on the Kingdom thanks to its attraction of some of the biggest names in international football. This significant development has placed additional pressure on the refereeing system to keep pace with the league's speed and intensity, as every whistle is now subject to extensive media and public scrutiny due to its direct impact on the fiercely contested league standings.
This match takes on particular importance in the context of the title race and the battle for Asian Champions League qualification spots. Al-Hilal always strives to maintain its dominance and widen the gap with its rivals, while Al-Qadisiyah aims to solidify its place among the elite and confirm its strong return to contention. A draw in such a match can have complex implications at the end of the season, which explains Rodgers' anger and Inzaghi's calm tactical approach to the result in a league where there is no room for error.
