Is Ivan Tony in or out? Suspicion hangs over the Ahli-Hilal Clasico as suspension talks swirl

Tony in the Balance Ahead of the Clasico

The English forward has sparked controversy with his recent actions.

A number of sports outlets have revealed the truth behind Ivan Tony's possible ban from the upcoming Clasico between Al Ahli and their Saudi rivals Al Hilal in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup.

Al Ahli will host Hilal on Wednesday at the Al-Enma Stadium in Jeddah, in the King Cup semi-final, five days after facing Qadisiyah on Friday in Round 26 of the Roshen League.

Disciplinary Talks and Possible Consequences

Reports said the Saudi Football Federation's disciplinary committee asked Al Ahli for a response from Tony regarding a complaint filed against him by Al Ittihad over his celebration during their match.

Tony celebrated in a controversial fashion after scoring in the 3-1 win over Al Ittihad on Friday at the Al-Enma stadium in the Roshen League's 25th round.

The reports indicate the English striker could face a heavy two-match ban for this celebration, meaning he would miss the Qadisiyah league game and the King Cup clash with Hilal.

However, the Saudi newspaper Al-Yaom denied those reports, stating that the disciplinary committee would not intervene since the incident did not feature in the referee's or observer's report, meaning Tony would participate in the two matches.

It is worth noting that Tony is the top scorer in the Roshen League this season with 24 goals, tied with Mexican Julian Quinones of Qadisiyah, and three behind Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr.

Punchline 1: If Tony scores a goal and no one reviews the celebration, does it even count? Asked and answered by the committee that forgot to file a memo.

Punchline 2: The only thing more certain than a Tony goal is the calendar confirming it’s time for a press conference about it. Stay tuned, folks!