Lineup Drama Could Cost Al-Ahli Points Against Al-Qadsiah

Shocking Turn in the Al-Ahli vs Al-Qadsiah Clash

The echoes of Al-Qadsiah's protest against Al-Ahli continue to dominate the sports scene as the Saudi Football Federation weighs a ruling that could impact the result or trigger further disciplinary steps.

The club filed an official protest against Al-Ahli, accusing administrative errors during Friday's clash, which Al-Ahli won 2-1. The case has turned the focus from the on-field action to the paperwork and process behind the matchday lineups.

The Lineup Controversy and Potential Penalties

Legal expert Ahmed Al-Shaikhy said the protest centers on alleged breaches regarding the involvement of Firas Al-Briqan after being left out of the starting lineup and later reintroduced, a move the Al-Qadsiah camp argues is unlawful.

He added that Al-Qadsiah also questions the inclusion of Englishman Ivan Toni, who reportedly did not appear on the official list for the match.

If these infringements are confirmed, Al-Ahli could face punishment that includes the loss of three points from the game.

At the time of the match, Al-Qadsiah stood with 17 points and sat fifth, while Al-Ahli had 19 points in fourth place.

Referee Talk and Reactions

Jordanian referee expert Ahmed Abu Khdeijah argued that Al-Qadsiah had a right to a penalty that went unawarded, a claim that would have changed the scoreline in the early moments of the game.

He noted another potential spot-kick for Musab Al-Juwayr, and suggested the referee should have consulted the video referee before making decisions that affected the outcome.

In addition, he defended a red card shown to Ali Otávio and explained the need to control repeated misconduct to protect players and maintain fairness on the pitch.

Meanwhile, former youth star Abdu Atief criticized Al-Ahli's midfielder Ziyad Al-Jahani, arguing he struggles under pressure and asked what his standout trait is. The exchange underscored the heated tone of the broader debate surrounding the clash.