Al-Ahli Chief Takes on the Whistle: A 2-1 Fight, Frustrations, and a Night of Controversial Calls
21 November 2025
What happened on the night
On a tense evening at the Enmaa Stadium, Khaled Al-Ghamdi, president of Al-Ahli Jeddah, launched a pointed critique at Spanish referee Jose Monuera who oversaw the clash with Al-Qadisiyah in round nine of the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Ahli secured a 2-1 victory after a hard-fought battle, played on Friday night, with the home team finishing the match with ten men in the second half following a red card for Ziad Al-Jehni late in the first half for an incident involving Otavio Monteiro, off the ball.
In a televised appearance, Al-Ghamdi congratulated the Al-Ahli family on the performance and result. He emphasized that the team faced very challenging conditions, yet proved their resilience by overcoming both natural and unusual difficulties.
He noted the large attendance and the fighting spirit as reasons to believe they could push the season further, while also questioning the officiating environment and the presence of numerous cameras in the stadium, implying that such scrutiny can impact decisions on the field.
Al-Ghamdi praised the players and the coaching staff for their professionalism, stressing that the matter extends beyond understanding the laws of the game to the referee’s character and ability to control the match from the first whistle. He admitted fatigue from repeatedly discussing the issue.
The president also commented on the officiating decisions, pointing to the importance of fair treatment and the need for consistency in future encounters, especially when the match’s intensity and stakes are high.
Refereeing debate and historical context
During the post-match discussion, several controversial decisions were highlighted, including the sending-off of Al-Jehni and a late penalty appeal by Al-Qadisiyah that could have altered the scoreline and salvaged a draw.
Jordanian referee consultant Ahmed Abu Khudayjah argued that Al-Qadisiyah deserved a penalty in that moment and noted a separate incident where a potential foul on Musab Al-Guir could have warranted a spot-kick, had the VAR been consulted. He also defended the red card as justified due to misconduct by Al-Jehni and similar actions by Otavio Monteiro, asserting the calls aligned with FIFA rules and the referee’s clear view of the incidents.
The expert also stressed the need to curb such conduct to protect players and preserve fair play on the field.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Al-Ahli’s win follows a familiar pattern in head-to-heads that dates back to the inception of the current top-flight format in 2008, with the following results cited by the Saudi press as notable precedents for this scenario:
October 23, 2009: Al-Ahli won 2-1 after a red card to a opponent player.
January 14, 2010: Al-Ahli won 3-2 after another red card forced a late shift in momentum.
October 3, 2010: Al-Ahli secured a 2-1 win despite a red card to a key defender.
The sole exception occurred on May 14, 2021, when Al-Ahli defeated Al-Qadisiyah 1-0 with the goal coming before a red card was shown.
Overall, observers noted that the decisions reflected broader discussions about officiating standards and the role of video assistance in high-stakes league matches.
In the end, the night was a reminder that football thrives on drama, whether it’s a late winner, a controversial call, or a president’s emphatic post-match verdict.
Punchline time: if referees ever join a comedy club, their act would end with a whistle and a lingering question—was that a decision, or a plot twist? And if VAR had a dating profile, it would say: still searching for the perfect call, preferably in 3D and with instant replay.
