When the Penalty Hits the Spotlight: Ronaldo Delivers a Late Verdict in the Saudi Pro League
2 November 2025
Referee Drama in the Saudi Pro League
Al-Fayha ridiculed the late penalty that doomed them to defeat against Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday night.
They fell 2-1 after a controversial 90+12 penalty awarded to the capital club, securing the three points.
The club's official X account posted a video of the incident, with Ronaldo converting the decisive goal, accompanied by a Mohammed Abdu song chosen for the moment.
The Fayha account highlighted a push by Ronaldo on a Fayha defender inside the box before contact that led to the penalty, suggesting a foul that should have yielded a free kick rather than a spot-kick.
The video sparked wide engagement among Saudi football fans, with supporters divided on whether the decision was fair.
Referee Drama
The stoppage-time decision by referee Mohammed Al-Huwaish became one of the season’s most debated moments. The sequence unfolded around 90+8 minutes as a cross into the Fayha area collided amid a crowded box; some demanded a penalty, others not. After a VAR check, the referee awarded the spot-kick, provoking fury from Fayha players.
Ronaldo, the Weapon
Ronaldo is renowned for his penalties, a weapon in his arsenal since joining Al-Nassr in January 2023. He has faced 31 penalties for the club, scoring 28 and missing 3. His latest penalty sealed the win against Fayha.
Across competitions, the distribution has included the league, continental cups, and domestic cups, underscoring that even legends may endure a few misses along the way.
Former Nassr Star Responds
Hussein Abdul Ghani, a former Nassr star, defended the decision, saying Al-Nassr deserved the win as they battled until the final whistle. He argued that a clear hand contact by a Fayha defender inside the box justified the spot-kick.
The match left Al Nassr with 21 points at the top of the standings, while Fayha sat on 8 points in 10th place.
In the end, Ronaldo’s late goal provided the difference, turning a tense duel into a headline-grabbing victory for the league leaders.
Sniper joke 1: That call was so controversial even the whistle needed a lie detector test to stay honest.
Sniper joke 2: If penalties came with GPS, Ronaldo would still find the net, and the referee would still apologize for the detour.
