Derby Drama in Jeddah: Penalty Sparks Heated Debate
6 March 2026
Match context
A well-known officiating expert criticized the referee of the Jeddah derby between Al Ahli and Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League over the penalty awarded to the Tigers.
Key moments
Al Ahli and Al Ittihad met on Friday at the Al-Enmaa Stadium in Jeddah, in the 25th round of the Saudi Pro League.
Brazilian midfielder Fabinho scored Al Ittihad's first goal in the 51st minute from a penalty won by Dutch winger Steven Berghuis after a foul inside the box.
Pundit Mohamed Kamal Risha acknowledged the penalty was correct but criticized the referee for not awarding it immediately, saying the incident did not require a video review.
Speaking to the Saudi daily Al-Riyadhiya, Risha said: "The penalty was deserved after the foul on Berghuis inside the area; the call was clear and did not need VAR."
Humor note
Punchline 1: That call was so on target, even a sniper would pause to admire the aim. Punchline 2: If penalties kept coming like this, the VAR van would file for overtime and call it a “ref-mance.”
