I Prayed His Card Away: Nawaf Boushal Opens Up on the Controversial Moment Against Oman
3 December 2025
Key moment: Nawaf Boushal's controversial tackle
Nawaf Boushal, Saudi Arabia's right-back, spoke about his controversial moment that sparked wide debate during the clash with Oman on Tuesday.
He helped Saudi win a tight 2-1 victory in the opening group game of the Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar.
Aftermath and reactions
In a TV interview, Boushal said: "During the incident, I prayed to God fearing a red card because the referee would check VAR."
He added: "God answered my prayer and I avoided the sending-off, but my challenge on the Oman player was lawful, and I hope we keep winning in the coming matches."
Many refereeing experts felt the decision was wrong, noting Boushal deserved a direct red for the robust challenge on the Oman opponent, and calling the moment a rarity that raised questions about officiating accuracy.
Oman’s Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz also vented his fury at the referee, presenting the incident in the press conference and insisting the red card was unjust.
Punchlines: If prayers counted as VAR reviews, we’d all be off the hook. And if divine intervention were a stat, Nawaf Boushal would lead the league of miracles.
