Video Controversy: Was Al-Ittihad Granted an Early Penalty in the Jeddah Derby?
6 March 2026
A controversial moment at the start of the match.
Early Controversy in the Jeddah Derby
The Saudi Pro League clash between Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad opened with a disputed moment as Fabinho's run into the box ended with a fall that sparked penalty appeals.
The teams met on Friday at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, as part of the 25th round of the Saudi Pro League.
In the fourth minute, Brazilian Fabinho, a midfielder for Al-Ittihad, won the ball from midfield, charged toward the box, and went down after contact with Al-Ahli defenders.
Fabinho appealed for a penalty, but the referee allowed play to continue amid protests from Al-Ittihad players.
A Saudi-based refereeing expert, Ahmed Abu Khudayja, later backed the official's decision, speaking to the daily Al-Yom. He said that the tackle on Fabinho by Ziad Al-Jahni did not deserve a penalty and that the contact was normal, so the decision was correct.
He added that the challenge was within normal limits and that the ruling stood. The match context remains a talking point for fans and pundits alike.
Punchline 1: If controversy paid salaries, that call would fund the league's coffee budget for a year. Punchline 2: The whistle was louder than the crowd, but hey, at least the drama is free.
