Jeddah Derby Drama: Ittihad’s Missing Duo, Bergwijn’s Return, and a Call for Fair Play

Ahead of the Jeddah Derby

The Saudi club Al-Ittihad Jeddah has intensified its training under Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao as the team gears up for the Jeddah Derby against their arch rivals Al-Ahli, on Saturday evening at the Al-Inma Stadium, in the eighth round of the Roshan Saudi Pro League.

Ittihad is hoping to regain balance after a wobbling start to the season, while Al-Ahli aims to reaffirm domestic supremacy and maintain the positive momentum since the league began.

The coaching staff received a setback ahead of the derby with the confirmed absence of Brazilian duo Fabinho Tavares and defender Ahmed Sharahili from the squad.

Sharahili will miss the match due to ongoing physical and technical unfitness as he continues his rehabilitation after a left thigh injury that the club publicly disclosed on October 24.

Fabinho will also be sidelined through suspension after a red card in the last match against Al Gulf in round seven, a game that sparked broad refereeing controversy.

Sharahili joined Ittihad in the summer of 2022 from Al Hilal and helped the team win the Saudi League and the domestic Super Cup, before long injuries kept him from the first team last season.

Ittihad currently sits eighth with 11 points, while Al-Ahli are fifth with 13 points.

Bergwijn's Return and the Derby Mood

Fans breathed a sigh of relief as Dutch star Steven Bergwijn rediscovered his scoring touch after a 50‑day drought, lifting spirits around the squad.

He scored a decisive goal that propelled his team to a victory over Sharjah in the AFC Champions League Elite, bringing his tally to six goals this season in all competitions, after 13 goals last season in 29 matches.

Conceicao hopes Bergwijn's return to goal scoring provides a big mental boost ahead of the derby against Al-Ahli, particularly since his last strike before facing Sharjah came on September 15 against Al-Wahda.

There was visible anger within the club over Fabinho's red card, with Riyad Al-Mazhar, the club's spokesman, describing it as a clear refereeing injustice.

Al-Mazhar said the club had called on the Saudi Football Federation and the referees committee to review audio communications between the on-field referee and the VAR room to ensure full transparency, and to lift the ban if the decision was unwarranted.

The club also revealed it had submitted a formal request to bring in foreign referees for the Jeddah Derby to guarantee fair officiating in one of the season's most delicate fixtures.

The spokesman noted that the cost of bringing in foreign referees runs around 450,000 Saudi riyals, stressing that clubs pay these fees to ensure the match is judged at a level befitting a strong Roshan competition.

As part of December plans, the club aims to use the upcoming domestic break to organize a revamped training phase, in line with Conceicao's recommendations.

The Riyadh-based sports daily Al-Riyadiya reported that the coach urged leveraging the break to raise players' physical levels and address tactical gaps, since the team did not have a full summer training period under his leadership.

The administration is weighing several options, including a mid-season friendly tournament in Riyadh with international clubs, or an overseas camp in Europe or Asia, possibly staying domestic if logistics prove difficult.

Conceicao's aim is to restore energy to the squad and ensure full readiness for the season's second phase, which will feature important domestic and continental commitments following recent inconsistent results.

Amid injuries, controversial refereeing decisions, and a heavy schedule, Conceicao faces a real test in his first derby against Al-Ahli, with fans hoping for a strong response that reopens the fight for top spots in Roshan.

Punchline 1: If football were stand-up, the red card would be the joke that lands before the punchline and still gets all the laughs.

Punchline 2: Bergwijn’s drought ended, but the defense still keeps a low battery—some say the VAR is the only thing that’s truly charged around here.