Riyadh Derby Referee Sparks Debate as Al Hilal Dominate Al Nassr 3-1
13 January 2026
Riyadh Derby: Referee Decision in Spotlight
A controversial refereeing moment in the Riyadh derby between the traditional rivals Al Hilal and Al Nassr sparked a debate among fans who felt the official favored the other side.
Al Nassr fell 1-3 to Al Hilal at Kingdom Arena in the 15th round of the Saudi Pro League.
In the 69th minute, as Nassr players prepared for a corner after Al Hilal's first equalizer, the referee halted play following a fall by Mohammed Siamakan, a Nassr defender.
Replays showed contact between Siamakan and Hassan Tambakti inside the penalty area before the fall.
The referee did not award a penalty to Nassr nor send off Tambakti, and the match continued, with Al Hilal scoring the second and third goals.
Some Nassr fans argued the decision was unjust, especially since it came shortly after Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Nassr's goalkeeper, was sent off for a clash with Al Hilal's Ruben Neves.
Humor corner: if the whistle could talk, it would whisper “time for a reality check.” And if football had a referee with a conscience, that conscience would probably be off on vacation. Sniper punchlines: I quit betting on penalties; apparently the only thing certain is the uncertainty. Also, a referee with a sense of humor would call this a “no-call, all drama.”
