Penalty Debacle Too Big to Miss? Al Hilal Deliver a 3-0 Triumph Amid Referee Buzz
8 January 2026
Penalty Disputed in a Leaders Clash
Egyptian referee expert Mohamed Kamal Risha asserted that Al-Hazem deserved a penalty against Al-Hilal in the Thursday night clash, a match the leaders ultimately won 3-0.
Al-Hazem had appealed for a spot-kick after Abu Bakr Bah tumbled inside the Al-Hilal box in the 64th minute, at a moment when the scoreline showed the home side ahead 2-0.
Risha told the Saudi sports daily Al-Riyadiyah that the referee should have awarded a penalty to the visitors in the 64th minute.
Risha noted that Abu Bakr Bah suffered a foul inside the area by Nasser Al-Dosari, who allegedly denied a promising attack, and should have received a yellow card for the challenge.
The Zaeem, or leader, overcame Al-Hazem at Kingdom Arena in the 14th round of the Roshen Saudi Pro League 2025-2026.
Al Hilal’s goals came from Sergej Savic, Ruben Neves, and Darwin Nunez, pushing the team further clear at the top with 35 points.
Punchlines aside, the match delivered the usual drama: a big lead, a disputed moment, and a chorus of opinions about officiating decisions that seem to sprout every time a whistle blows.
Punchline 1: If officiating debates paid salaries, the referee would be living in a penthouse by now.
Punchline 2: And if you think the penalties were controversial, wait until the pundits start tweeting—the real offside is their sense of humor.
