Video: Refereeing expert settles the controversy over Al Ahly’s decisive penalty against Al-Fayha In a clip that has sparked widespread debate among fans and analysts alike, a seasoned refereeing consultant has reviewed the tense penalty shoot-out that se

Published on 08 Apr 2026 | Reading time: 1 minute

A refereeing expert has ruled that Al-Ahli Jeddah were denied a clear penalty during their Saudi Roshen League clash with Al-Fayha, closing the controversy that erupted after Sunday’s match.

The match, played on Wednesday at Al-Majma’ah Sports City Stadium as part of the 29th round of the Roshen League, had already seen Al-Ahli come from behind to level the score at 1–1.

In the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time, the ball struck Al-Fayha defender Villanueva’s hand inside the penalty area as his teammate Chris Smalling attempted to clear the danger.

Al-Ahli players immediately appealed for a penalty, but the referee initially waved play on. They kept pressing, prompting him to check the monitor at the side of the pitch. After a brief review, he confirmed his original decision, refusing to award the spot-kick and sparking fury among the Al-Ahli bench and their travelling supporters.

Egyptian refereeing expert Mohamed Kamal Risha later backed the official’s call, explaining that the handball was not deliberate because the ball had first struck a teammate.

Risha told the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiah: “In stoppage time of the Al-Fayha v Al-Ahli match, the referee made the correct decision to refuse to award a penalty to Al-Ahli. It was an unintentional handball after the ball rebounded off a teammate.”

The draw took Al-Ahli’s tally to 66 points, provisionally second in the Saudi Pro League table, four points behind Al-Nassr, who have played one game fewer.

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