Fiery Finale: Qadsiah vs NEOM Ends with On-Field Clash and Post-Whistle Tensions
12 February 2026
What happened at the end of the match
The late drama unfolded after the 22nd round clash in the Saudi Pro League between Al-Qadsiah and NEOM, with Qadsiah edging NEOM 1-0. The result boosted Qadsiah to 47 points and into third place, level with Al-Ahli for the moment as the title race tightens and the battle for top spots intensifies.
As the final whistle blew, tempers flared on the pitch. A heated exchange erupted between Lucho Rodriguez of NEOM and Nathan Nandez of Qadsiah, triggering immediate intervention from teammates and officials to restore order.
The tension escalated when Julian Kenones, the Qadsiah forward, rushed to defend a teammate and grabbed an NEOM player by the neck area. Players from both sides acted quickly to separate them, led by Ahmad Hegazi, NEOM’s captain, who played a key role in calming the situation.
The confrontation lasted several minutes, with the referee, assistants, and coaching staff doing their part to de-escalate. Normal play resumed, and the incident was left to the match report and potential sanctions to be determined later.
Punchline time: If tempers counted toward goals, this match would have needed extra time. And if calmness were a stat, the bench would deserve the man of the match award for restraint.
secondary punchline: I went to the game for football, stayed for the post-match drama—apparently, the real tackles happen off the field with questions and receipts flying around.
