Turki Al-Sahli's withdrawal from the "Our Club" program sparks controversy surrounding the Riyadh derby
The final whistle of the thrilling Riyadh derby, which Al-Hilal won 3-1, did not signal the end of the excitement, but rather the beginning of a new chapter of controversy whose repercussions echoed from the pitch of King Fahd International Stadium to the halls of sports media. An unusual incident occurred during an episode of the program "Our Club" on MBC, when sports commentator and analyst Turki Al-Sahli abruptly withdrew live on air, a scene reflecting the intense tension and fierce competition that pervades the Saudi sports scene.
The details of the crisis and verbal altercation
began with a technical analysis presented by Al-Sahli of the match, in which he argued that Al-Nassr was the technically superior side. He attributed the change in the score to the refereeing decisions, which he described as the "most prominent feature" of the encounter. Al-Sahli specifically pointed to the penalty kick by which Salem Al-Dawsari equalized, and the red card shown to goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi, considering it a deliberate provocation that disrupted the focus of Al-Nassr's players.
The turning point in the discussion came when the program's host, Abdulrahman Al-Humaidi, intervened, demanding that his guest be objective and refrain from "rhetorical language." This description angered Al-Sahli, who considered it a belittling of his artistic contribution and a sign of bias on the part of the host against his opinion. He responded firmly, "It's illogical to describe my remarks as vague and rhetorical," before deciding to leave the studio amidst the astonishment of those present, despite Al-Humaidi's attempts to salvage the situation and his insistence on the program's impartiality.
The reactions and ongoing controversy
surrounding the incident did not go unnoticed, but rather sparked a wave of discussions, the most prominent of which was the comment of the veteran critic Adnan Jastaniah, who took a middle ground, supporting Al-Sahli in his rejection of the characterization of his speech, and opposing him in the decision to withdraw, as he saw that staying and confronting with the argument was the most appropriate option for a media figure who possesses his tools.
The Riyadh Derby: Historical Context and Global Impact.
To understand the intensity of this debate, one must consider the broader context of the Riyadh derby. Historically, matches between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr have been the pinnacle of Saudi and Gulf football, but in recent years they have acquired an unprecedented global dimension. With the significant transformation of Saudi sports, the entry of the Public Investment Fund, and the attraction of stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Aleksandar Mitrovic, these matches are no longer merely a local affair but have become the focus of global attention. This transformation has amplified the psychological and media pressures on all parties involved in the system—players, referees, and media personnel—with every word and every decision being scrutinized under intense scrutiny.
The sports media, as part of the event,
illustrates how the Al-Sahli incident has transformed sports media in the Kingdom into the "third half" of the match. Sports programs are no longer merely platforms for pure technical analysis, but have become arenas for exchanging heated opinions that directly influence public opinion. Amidst the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League, the line between technical criticism and biased support has become very thin, making managing the dialogue on such programs a challenging task that demands a delicate balance between sensationalism and professionalism.
Ultimately, the public may forget the details of the tactical goals in the derby after a while, but the media controversy and the accompanying dramatic situations such as Al-Sahli's withdrawal remain stuck in people's minds, confirming that modern football is an integrated industry that does not end with the referee's whistle.
