Is the Saudi League helping Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr? New accusations spark reactions across players and media

The Saudi league has entered its final stretch with the championship still undecided. Six rounds remain, and nerves are beginning to show with every slip-up. At present, Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, sits top of the table with a two-point lead over Al Hilal, albeit having played one more match. Until two days ago, Al Ahli occupied second place, but their draw against Al Fayha has seen them drop down a spot.

Al Ahli players erupted after that result, accusing the referee of denying them victory by failing to award a handball. Galeno, the former Porto player, claimed they were not allowed to win because Saudi Arabia wants Ronaldo to be crowned champion. “They can just hand them the trophy – that’s what they want. They want to push us out of the title race no matter what. They want to give the trophy to one person. It’s a lack of respect for our club,” he wrote angrily on X.

He was not alone. Ivan Toney spoke to the media, and also posted a message on his Instagram story – later deleted – expressing similar frustration. “We all know it. Who are we trying to take first place from? Who benefits? It’s crystal clear. I don’t know what more we can do. If you grab the ball with both hands, is that not a penalty? When we tried to speak to the referee, he told us to focus on the Asian Champions League. How can a referee say that? He said he was recording everything – I hope we get to hear it. Maybe he deleted it…”

The anger is not limited to the players. The club itself released an official statement criticizing the officiating. “The referee’s decisions had a direct impact on the course of the match and its final outcome, which in turn affected the team’s position in the title race. Such errors raise legitimate doubts about the referee selection process and the criteria applied. The team has faced unfair refereeing decisions – an unacceptable situation that does not support the development of the competition nor uphold the principle of competitive fairness, which must be the foundation of any successful tournament.”

Frustration runs deep within the club, with accusations that Saudi authorities are keen to see Al Nassr and Ronaldo crowned champions this season. With just six rounds remaining, the race for the Saudi league title is still wide open.

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