Referee Expert Clears Up Controversial Moment in the Saudi Derby
6 February 2026
What happened in the Saudi derby
The 11th-minute incident in the Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad clash at Al Nassr Park sparked a loud penalty appeal from the Tigers after a cross by Musa Diaby deflected off defender Mohammad Siamakan’s leg and hand as he tried to clear.
Verdict and reaction
The referee consulted VAR and ultimately ruled there would be no penalty, drawing protests from Al Ittihad players and their Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao.
Jordanian official Ahmed Abu Khdeiga told Al-Yom that the decision was correct, explaining that the ball touched the leg before touching the hand, so the ruling stood.
Punchlines: If VAR were a sniper, it would take the shot and then wait for slo-mo; the crowd would still be debating as the coffee goes cold. If this derby keeps piling up replays, maybe the only card left will be a laugh track.
