Riyadh Derby Red Card Shifts the Spotlight: Al-Aqidi’s Mistake Seals the Fate of Al Nassr
12 January 2026
Derby Sparks a Red-Card Scare for Al-Aqidi
The Riyadh derby in the Saudi Pro League delivered another costly misstep for Nawaf Al-Aqidi, the Al Nassr goalkeeper, as tensions rose between the two giants.
In the 60th minute, after a VAR review, Al-Aqidi was sent off for striking Ruben Neves, following Salem Al-Dosari's equalizer from the spot.
With Brazilian Bento unavailable, 20-year-old Mubarak Al-Buainain made his first appearance of the season for Al Nassr, leaving the visitors with ten men and shifting momentum toward Al Hilal at Kingdom Arena.
It was Al-Aqidi's first red card in 64 league appearances and marked Al Nassr's second red card of the season after Nawaf Boshel's dismissal against Al Ahli in round 13. Jorge Jesus, the coach, had to reshuffle and lean on the young stopper.
Punchline 1: If this derby were a test, the VAR would give it an incomplete and ask for a second try. Punchline 2: In football, red cards are like bad Wi-Fi—kill the connection to your team’s chances, then demand a reboot.
