Locker Room Fire: After the Jeddah Derby, Tension Roars in Al Ittihad’s Camp
9 March 2026
Locker-Room Tensions Erupt After the Jeddah Derby
The Jeddah derby ended in a 3-1 loss for Al Ittihad to fierce rival Al Ahli, shaking the team’s focus as the Roshen Pro League’s 25th round concluded on Friday night.
Al Ittihad remain on 42 points in sixth place, while Al Ahli rise to 62 points in second, two points behind leaders Al Nassr.
According to Saudi media figure Mohammad Al-Bakiri on X, Sérgio Conceição raised his voice inside the locker room after full time, making his frustration with the players’ display clear.
The Portuguese coach reportedly delivered a stern dressing-down to several players for what he described as a poor performance and a lack of concentration, and he singled out goalkeeper Predrag Rajković for criticism, blaming him for the decisive third goal that sealed the loss.
Conceição’s ire extended to the post-match press conference, where he launched harsh criticisms of the officiating and voiced dissatisfaction with his team’s form in parts of the game.
The coach even touched on how Al Ahli’s stars handled the derby before getting into a verbal clash with a journalist in a moment that drew significant attention after the match.
