Marciniak to Whistle Jeddah Derby: A World-Class Referee Faces Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli

Marciniak Set to Referee the Jeddah Derby

The Saudi Football Federation revealed the match officials for the Jeddah Derby between Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli in the Roshan Saudi Pro League, scheduled for Saturday at the Al-Inma Stadium. The game is a marquee clash as round eight unfolds with a city’s pride on the line.

The federation named Polish referee Simon Marciniak to officiate, supported by fellow countrymen Thomas Listkiewicz as first assistant and Acardius Voitsyk as second assistant. Polish official Tomas Kowatkowski will handle the video arbitration (VAR), with Yasser Al-Sultan assisting on the VAR side, and Ali Al-Qahtani serving as the fourth official.

Marciniak’s appointment adds a familiar narrative: he is regarded as one of the world’s top referees today, a fact that raises the stakes for a derby that already commands attention from fans and media alike.

In the 2022 World Cup, Marciniak’s most defining moment came in the final between France and Argentina, a match that went to extra time and penalties after a 2-2 regulation and 3-3 extra time before the South Americans prevailed on spot-kicks.

What Do Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad Expect from Marciniak?

This will mark Marciniak’s 34th Saudi Pro League appearance and his 39th game in Saudi football overall. Al-Ahli has seen him on 10 league occasions, collecting four wins, five defeats and one draw. Al-Ittihad has officiated four times under Marciniak, recording one victory, two losses and one draw. Notably, this derby will be his first assignment in Jeddah for the fixture between these two giants.

In the match-contest atmosphere, the two clubs look to interpret the same set of rules under his watchful eye, aiming to avoid costly errors and to gain momentum in a league that rewards consistency as much as flare.

Al-Ahli: Aiming to Steer Domestic Form Back on Track

Al-Ahli head coach Matías Jaissle sends the team into the game with an eye on rebounding in domestic competition, while remaining buoyed by a recent continental win over Qatari side Al-Sadd in the AFC Champions League knockout stage. The team sits in the mid-table pack, with 13 points from three wins and four draws, yet their attack has produced nine goals in seven matches—still among the league’s more potent lines with Riyad Mahrez, Firas Al-Briqan and Galeno among the potent options in forward and wide areas.

The expected lineup, as Jaissle prepares to pit his tactics against a high-caliber opponent, features Edward Mendy in goal; a defense of Ali Al-Mujriqi, Merih Demiral, Roger Ibanez, and Zakaria Houssawi; midfield anchors Frank Kessie, Enzo Milot, and Mathías Gonçalves; and an attacking trio led by Riyad Mahrez, Firas Al-Briqan and Galeno.

Al-Ittihad: A Real Test for Conceição’s Project

Al-Ittihad, led by Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição, enters the derby under growing pressure as results in the league have not yet matched fan expectations since his arrival. They stand eighth with 11 points after a mix of results, and the club is determined to reclaim momentum in both domestic and Asian competition, having recently posted strong wins against Sharjah and Al-Shorta in Asia.

The predicted XI for Al-Ittihad features Predrag Rajković in goal; a back four including Mohannad Al-Shanqiti, Danilo Pereira, Mario Mitai and Hassan Kadish; and a midfield trio of N’Golo Kanté, Mamadou Doumbia and Faisal Al-Ghamdi; with Steven Bergwijn, Moussa Diaby and Karim Benzema supporting the attack.

Referee for the Nassr vs Neom Fixture

Separately, the Saudi Football Federation announced the officiating crew for the Nassr vs Neom match: Abdullah Al-Shehri as the center referee, with Omar Al-Jamal and Saad Al-Sharimi as assistants, and Ahmad Al-Rihmani as the fourth official. VAR duties are assigned to Salman Al-Harbi with Mufleh Al-Hassan assisting.

As the weekend approaches, football fans brace for a derby that could shape the run-in to the season, with Marciniak’s presence adding a layer of anticipation that transcends club loyalties.

Punchline 1: If Marciniak ever starts calling extra time “bonus life,” at least you’d finally know how many chances you truly have to see a miracle re-run. Punchline 2: The players may be offside in spirit, but at least their jokes stay onside—timed to the whistle, of course.