Saudi Al-Ahli Duo Faces Risk of One-Year Suspension Due to Controversial Statements After Al-Fayha Match

The Saudi Al-Ahli players, Ivan Toney and Wanderson Galeno, sparked significant controversy after their fiery statements following the team's draw with Al-Fayha in the Roshan League, which threatens them with a suspension of up to one year.

The match witnessed significant tension between the players, coaching staff, and the referee, due to the referee's cancellation of two clear penalty kicks for Al-Ahli, which led the players to express their anger through media and social media platforms, with implicit accusations of prior influence on match outcomes.

After the match, Ivan Toney stated that the referee intentionally harmed Al-Ahli to please the competitors, adding that the team's focus should be on the Asian Championship, not the league, which sparked widespread controversy.

For his part, Brazilian Wanderson Galeno posted an angry tweet saying: "You can hand them the cup, that’s what they want… they want to get us out by any means," referring to perceived prior influence on the course of the championship, according to the public.

Legal advisor Salman Al-Ramali explained to the newspaper "Okaz" that the players' statements cast doubt on the integrity of the refereeing and harm the Saudi league, noting that the disciplinary and ethics regulations of the Saudi Football Federation stipulate punishing such cases with a suspension of up to one year and a fine that could reach 300,000 riyals.

Al-Ramali added that Galeno is also at risk of punishment due to his angry posts on social media, emphasizing that the current phase requires a firm stance from the disciplinary committee to maintain the league's reputation.

Fans and sports media are closely monitoring the upcoming steps from the disciplinary committee, amid expectations of strict actions against the players, while the team's fate in the league remains tied to maintaining order and discipline on the pitch.