Roshn Saudi Pro League Shakeup: Official Protest Over Al-Ahli Lineup
22 November 2025
Official protest over Al-Ahli's lineup
Al-Qadisiyah filed a formal protest with the Saudi Football Federation against Al-Ahli, alleging administrative errors by the visiting club during Friday's clash.
The match ended with Al-Ahli prevailing 2-1 in the Roshn Saudi Pro League’s ninth round, a result that triggered the complaint.
According to a Saudi sports daily, the Qadisiyah leadership submitted the protest after the game, claiming the lineup list submitted before kickoff did not match the players who actually took the field.
Qadisiyah’s move raises questions about roster accuracy and matchday administration within the league.
Third red card of the season
The same source also noted that the red card shown to an Al-Ahli player marked the club’s third dismissal of the current season in matches in which Al-Ahli were involved.
Across nine rounds, Al-Ahli has recorded two other sendings-off, all attributed to the same player, underscoring a disciplinary trend for the team this campaign.
Al-Ahli's reaction to officiating
Al-Ahli leadership commented on the officiating, with club officials criticizing the Spanish referee and suggesting issues with VAR decisions were at play.
The club president voiced after the game, praising the atmosphere and the effort of the players while expressing frustration about the officiating and stressing respect for opponents and fans alike.
Looking ahead, Al-Ahli’s camp argued the team faced tough conditions yet continued to compete, emphasizing the importance of fair officiating and transparency as the season progresses.
Following the win, veteran figure Hamd Al-Manshri offered his view on the title race, suggesting that while Al-Ahli showed moments of quality, lifting the league might be unlikely in the current campaign, with potential focus on domestic cups and continental qualification instead.
He added that Al-Ahli performed well defensively but could improve in attack, and that the timing of a goal and the overall game plan shaped the result more than any single moment.
Punchline: If football ever needed a compass, it’d be stuck on “referee’s call.”
Punchline 2: Tonight’s drama proves even the scoreboard could use a nap—sometimes it just wants to go to bed at 2-1 and call it a day.
