Referee Spotlight: Kabakov’s Whistle Sets the Stage for a Riyadh Derby Surprise
31 October 2025
The Saudi Football Federation announced the refereeing crews for Friday’s matches in Round 7 of the Saudi Pro League.
Al Hilal will host Al Shabab in the Riyadh derby at Kingdom Arena, while Al Najma faces Al Akhdoud on the visitors’ ground, and Al Ettifaq welcomes Al Hazm on the second day of the round.
The federation, via its official X account, disclosed the appointed referees, noting that only one foreign official crew would be present for the day’s marquee match between Al Hilal and Al Shabab in the Riyadh derby at Kingdom Arena.
The standout appointment for the day went to a Bulgarian crew led by referee Georgi Kabakov, with Martin Margaritov and Martin Minev as assistants, and Abdullah Al Awidan as the fourth official.
In the video room, Nicola Bubov and his assistant Radoslav Gidjinov were listed for VAR duties.
Previously, Kabakov has presided over five matches involving Al Hilal, with the team winning three, drawing one, and losing the other.
One notable clash came in August 2020 against Al Fateh, when Kabakov awarded three penalties in that meeting, two to Hilal and one to the opponent; Hilal’s second goal came in the 86th minute thanks to a strike by the Frenchman Bafetimbi Gomis.
That match featured eight yellow cards—three to Al Hilal and five to Al Fateh.
The second Kabakov assignment with Hilal was in the 2021-2022 Riyadh derby against Al Ahli, a game Hilal won 4-2, with a penalty awarded to the Ahli side during the contest.
The third win came in January 2023, when Hilal beat Abha 2-1, a game that included a penalty converted by Salman Al-Dawsari for the blue-clad side.
Across those outings, Kabakov issued seven yellow cards to Abha (three) and Hilal (four).
The only draw with Kabakov for Hilal came against Al Ta’ee in the same season, a 2-2 result that featured four cautionary cards all to Ta’ee players and no penalties.
Sparks in the Derby Memory Lane
The most jarring memory remains last season’s Riyadh derby with Al Nasr, where Kabakov’s side navigated a 3-1 victory for Nasr. A single penalty for Nasr and a yellow for a Hilal player marked a night of controversy.
Balanced Numbers and Career Footprint
Kabakov is not known for over-issuing cards, and his penalty awards this season sit at a measured level: 11 matches with 55 yellows, two reds, and six penalties across a mix of leagues and competitions.
Over his career, Kabakov has officiated 460 matches since 2006, issuing 2472 yellow cards, 87 red cards, 60 straight dismissals, and 128 penalties.
Last season in the Saudi Pro League, he oversaw 6 matches with 25 yellows and 4 penalties, never red-carded in those appearances.
Local Whistles for Other Encounters
For the lower-profile games, a local crew was chosen for the Akhdood vs Al Najma clash, led by Ahmad Al-Rimkhani, with Abdulaziz Al-Abdulkarim and Mufreh Al Hassan as assistants, and Mohammed Al-Harbi as the fourth official. Video review duties were assigned to Abdullah Al-Kharbash and Ahmed Al-Tayq.
The matches between Al Ettifaq and Al Hazm were managed by Ali Al-Qahtani, with Isa Al-Khibrie and Ali Al-Ali as assistants, and Mohammed Al-Daqash as the fourth official. Video duties for that game were handled by Abdulhalem Al-Shahri and Nawaf Saqaf.
A Derby Different This Season
The Riyadh derby between Al Hilal and Al Shabab takes on a different flavor this season, given the standings. Hilal sits third with 14 points, just four behind league leaders Nasr and one behind second-placed Taawon, while Al Shabab languishes in 13th with six points from one win and three draws.
Historical head-to-heads over the past decade favor Hilal, with Al Shabab recording only a single win in that stretch, a result from about two years ago.
Punchlines aside, the stage is set for a weekend heavy with decisions, drama, and a whistle that might just steal the show—until the net finds the back of the net, of course.
In a game where precision counts and nerves can fray, Kabakov’s call could tip the scales in a derby that always delivers headlines.
