Despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s Complaints, Al Nassr CEO Defends Referees Over Mistakes

Are the referees in the Saudi Pro League favoring Al Hilal over AL Nassr? Well, that’s what has been the topic of scrutiny lately and was intensified after Cristiano Ronaldo raised concerns about the controversial decisions made by the referee during a recent match between AL Nassr and AL Hilal. However, instead of joining the criticism, the CEO of Al Nassr surprisingly came forward to defend the referees.

One of the most contentious decisions made by the referee during the match was the disallowed goal scored by Cristiano Ronaldo himself, which would have equalized the score. In addition, there was also an incident where the referee ignored a possible penalty for Yassine Bounou’s challenge in the dying minutes of the match. But, AL Nassr CEO believes it was just a ‘mistake’.

Saudi referees showed support from AL Nassr CEO

In a recent conference, AL Nassr CEO Guido Fienga addressed the ongoing debate about the performance of the referees in the SPL. There have been reports ongoing of the possibility of bringing in referees from outside the country. Fienga expressed his belief in the capabilities of Saudi referees.

He stated, “I have met a number of Saudi referees. They are very good and have skill.” Nonetheless, Fienga also acknowledged the controversial decisions made by the referee stating, “Like us, they have mistakes, but they need training and experience.” 

The CEO’s defense of the referees may come as a surprise, considering the controversial decisions made against his team. However, his emphasis on training and experience suggests that he sees these mistakes as part of the learning process for referees. But not everyone shares Fienga’s optimistic view. Ronaldo, for instance, has hinted at the possibility of the referee being bribed.

Cristiano Ronaldo is not happy with the refereeing

The 5x Ballon d’Or winner has long been skeptical of refereeing against Al Nassr. Even before the game against AL Hilal, CR7 voiced his concern about the need for international referees. His dissatisfaction was apparent during the match as well.

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After his goal was disallowed, he attempted to halt play by obstructing AL Hilal goalkeeper Bono, to request a VAR check. Through gestures, he indicated that he believed the referee was biased. Towards the end of the match, the Portuguese striker continued to make gestures emphasizing the importance of VAR. It is evident that Cristiano Ronaldo was displeased with these decisions.

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