Whistle Wars: A 1-1 Saudi Derby Sparks Referee Debate and Late Drama
30 October 2025
Match Recap and Controversy
The Al-Ahli Jeddah vs Al-Riyadh match on Thursday night finished 1-1, and the game was overshadowed by a heated refereeing debate.
Fans of Al-Ahli directed their ire at the referee as they left Prince Abdullah bin Faisal Stadium, in the seventh round of the Roshn Saudi League for the 2025-26 season.
Saudi daily Al-Yaom reported that Al-Ahli supporters launched a strong protest against the official after the final whistle.
Controversial moments
In this context, a Jordanian refereeing expert, Ahmed Abu Khdeiga, asserted that Al-Ahli did not deserve a penalty against Riyadh in the seventh round, arguing the ball did not touch a Riyadh defender’s hand and that the official’s decision to continue play was correct.
He added that awarding a penalty to Al-Ahli would have been valid only if there was a hand touch by a Riyadh player, but the current decision stood as the right call.
Absentees and derby logistics
Za’id Al-Jahni, an Al-Ahli player, was confirmed to miss the upcoming clash with city rivals Al-Ittihad in the Jeddah Derby in Roshn Saudi League competition, becoming the first absentee following a red card earned in the Riyadh match.
Late drama and league positions
The result left Al-Ahli with a 1-1 draw, meaning two valuable points slipped in the title race. Al-Ahli’s goal came from a late penalty in the 91st minute, converted by Ivan Toni, while Riyadh equalized in the 90+11th minute from a penalty taken by Tousi. Consequently, Al-Ahli stayed fifth with 13 points (3 wins, 4 draws), while Riyadh sat twelfth with 7 points (2 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses).
The first half saw Al-Ahli struggle to convert possession into goals. In the sixth minute, Ivan Toni led a raid down the right and fired at Riyadh’s defense. A few minutes later, Fras Al-Briqan tried a header setup for Toni, but Riyadh’s Hazazi cleared it for a corner, which was then headed narrowly wide by Demeiral.
The second half saw renewed pressure from Al-Ahli, but Riyadh defended stoutly most of the time. In the 48th minute, Ali Majrashi delivered a precise cross to Faras Al-Briqan, whose header was saved by Milan Yurian. Al-Ahli continued to press, while Riyadh held their lines with determination.
In the 61st minute, Riyadh’s counter helped created chances as Mahrez forced a sequence to the box, but the shot was blocked and cleared away. In the 85th minute, Al-Ahli were awarded a penalty after a handball by a Riyadh defender, which Toni converted to give the hosts the lead, only for a dramatic late twist when Tousi equalized in stoppage time, and Al-Ahli finished with ten men after Za’id Al-Jahni was sent off.
Jaissle’s milestone
German coach Matthias Jaissle celebrated his hundredth match in all competitions with Al-Ahli Saudi FC since taking charge in the summer of 2023, a milestone highlighting the long, storied chapter of his tenure.
Jaissle’s era with Al-Ahli stands as the longest and most eventful in his 37-year career, now into its second year at the helm.
Punchline time: If this match were a software, VAR would still be buffering the ending. And if referees ran on a treadmill, this game would be a marathon with extra time—sweat, suspense, and a few whistles for good measure.
