Whistle of Destiny: Referee Stuns Al-Ittihad as Al-Khulood, The Rising Force, Takes Center Stage
9 January 2026
Referee, venue, and lineups
The Saudi Football Federation's referees committee has appointed a local crew to oversee the Al-Khulood vs Al-Ittihad clash in the 14th round of the Roshen Pro League.
Al-Ittihad visits Al-Khulood at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Friday evening, with both sides chasing another league win to keep their momentum alive.
The match will be led by referee Sultan Al-Harbi, with Essa Al-Khibrí and Mohammed Khalil as assistants, and Khalid Al-Ahmri as the fourth official. Video-assisted review will be handled by Shukri Al-Hanafoush and Abdullah Al-Ajim.
Harbi has officiated 10 Al-Khulood matches, including one this season against Damac, in the third round of the league.
Head-to-head notes and Harbi’s history with the teams
Al-Khulood have won seven times under Harbi, with three defeats and no draws in their direct encounters.
In their Damac meeting this season, Al-Khulood prevailed 2-1, although a late penalty was awarded to Damac.
Al-Ittihad have had Harbi in charge of three previous games, winning twice and losing once; that single loss remains a notable shock.
Harbi’s first appearance involving Al-Ittihad came against Al-Fayha in August 2017, when the giants won 5-2.
During the 2023-2024 season, Al-Ittihad suffered a surprising 0-5 defeat to Al-Ettifaq, a campaign that saw them drift from the title race.
Most recently, Harbi’s last meeting with Al-Ittihad was against Al-Fath in the previous season, which the champions won 2-0.
Overall, the clash promises a tactical chess match with a referee who has left his mark on both sides across different campaigns.
Punchline time: If the whistle had a ringtone, it would be “Bringing you the drama, one offside at a time.” And if patience were a card, Harbi would be flashing it at the speed of light—because sometimes the best offense is a well-timed VAR check.
