Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Al Hilal Club has strongly criticized the officiating standards in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) following its controversial 1-1 draw against Al Riyadh, calling for the appointment of elite foreign referees to ensure fairness in the competition.

In an official statement, Al Hilal directly accused Manuel Navarro, Chairman of the Referees Committee at the Saudi Football Federation (SFF), of pressuring clubs to accept Saudi referees despite ongoing concerns about their quality and neutrality.

The club reiterated its firm stance against reverting to local officiating crews, arguing that recent refereeing decisions have negatively impacted the league's credibility.

The club also took aim at Michael Emenalo, Director of Football at the Saudi Pro League (SPL), criticizing his previous remarks in which he reportedly expressed hope that Al Hilal would face difficulties in the competition. Al Hilal described such statements as unacceptable from a league official, stressing that neutrality should be a priority for those in leadership positions.

Al Hilal’s frustration stems from two penalty claims during the match against Al Riyadh, which were denied despite VAR evidence supporting them, according to the club’s statement.

The team labeled the officiating as “suspicious”, questioning the referees' reluctance to use VAR or award penalties in clear-cut situations.

Reaffirming its commitment to competing at the highest level, Al Hilal concluded by demanding fair and transparent refereeing to uphold the integrity of the league.