Tempers have boiled over in the Saudi Pro League after Ivan Toney openly questioned the fairness of officiating, hinting that decisions are tilting in favour of Cristiano Ronaldo and his Al-Nassr side.
The flashpoint came after Al-Ahli were held to a 1–1 draw by Al-Fayha, a result that dents their push for the title. Toney, who netted his 27th goal of the season, shifted focus away from his performance to what he described as blatant refereeing oversights.
According to the striker, two “obvious” penalty calls were ignored. He also claimed the referee dismissed protests with a surprising remark, telling players to concentrate on continental competition instead of the match at hand, a comment that only deepened frustration within the squad.
The dropped points leave Al-Ahli sitting third, chasing Al-Nassr, who not only lead the standings but also have a game in hand, tightening their grip on the title race.
When pressed on who benefits from such controversial calls, Toney’s response carried more weight than words. A brief laugh followed by a pointed question, “Who are we chasing?” was widely interpreted as a swipe at Ronaldo’s side. He went further, suggesting that key decisions seem to shift as the season reaches its decisive phase.
Toney later doubled down online, sharing clips of the incidents and implying that crucial moments are being influenced rather than judged on merit.
Teammate Galeno did not hold back either. In a fiery post, he accused the system of lacking respect for Al-Ahli and went as far as suggesting the title is being steered toward a single player, a remark widely seen as aimed at Ronaldo.
The club itself has now stepped into the storm. In an official statement, Al-Ahli expressed strong dissatisfaction with the officiating and formally requested the release of VAR audio from the match. They argue that the decisions not only disrupted the flow of play but may have directly influenced the outcome, raising broader concerns about referee selection and standards in a league that has rapidly grown in global attention.
With the season nearing its climax, the controversy adds another layer of tension. Al-Nassr, chasing their first league crown since the 2018–19 campaign, remain narrowly ahead of rivals like Al-Hilal, but the noise around officiating is now threatening to overshadow the football itself.
As the title race tightens, the spotlight is no longer just on goals and points, but on the integrity of the competition.
