When the whistle tilts the table: ex-Nassr spokesman claims the Saudi Pro League favors Al-Hilal

Context

Saud Al-Sarami, the former official spokesperson for Al-Nassr, fired off sharp statements that ignited a broad debate in Saudi football. He alleged that there is a tendency to award the Roshen Pro League title to Al-Hilal, either through refereeing decisions or other elements that swayed the race.

Claims and Reactions

Al-Hilal faces ongoing accusations of refereeing bias, especially in decisive matches against traditional rivals such as Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli. The allegations include controversial calls—penalties awarded or overturned, players sent off or not—and varying interpretations of refereeing situations, leaving fans with the sense that bias could affect outcomes.

The controversy is intensified by a perceived easier schedule for Al-Hilal, with critics arguing the fixture list favors the team and allows them to rack up points with less pressure against tougher opponents.

In a post on X, Al-Sarami said: "Looking at the remaining fixtures for the top four, the league is tilted toward Al-Hilal." He added that in the next ten games Nassr would face strong clubs, while Hilal's eight forthcoming matches look less demanding, almost like training on paper.

He also claimed the next match is Al-Hilal vs The Star tomorrow, noting that the rival showed strong form in the first round and faced refereeing decisions that affected the outcome.

"The standings are 100% in Hilal's favor," he said, "and I am sure they will clinch the title before the season ends." He concluded that the table is unfair to other clubs, and that Hilal has 12 foreign players while Nassr has eight; he added that one player should not be counted among foreigners.

Punchline 1: If the league tilts any more, the ball might start rolling uphill just to stay on the right side of the table.

Punchline 2: If bias were a player, it would be the only one who gets a red card and a standing ovation at the same time.