Referee Expert: Taawon Didn’t Deserve a Penalty Against Al Ittihad, Says the Judge
A respected football official in Mohamed Kamal Risha argues that Al Taawon’s appeal for a penalty against Al Ittihad was unfounded. The moment in the 20th minute of a Jeddah showdown sparked debate, but the expert insists the contact did not warrant a penalty and that VAR did not intervene. He also notes the referee should have cautioned Roger Fernandez for a yellow card. The result leaves Al Ittihad pursuing league leadership while Taawon remains in a strong top-three position. The match context feeds into a wider title race narrative in the Saudi Pro League.