Ivan Toney has joined his club Al Ahli in raising serious questions of the standard of refereeing during their Saudi Pro League clash with Al Fayha.
Al Ahli have called for the release of the communications between the on-field officials and VAR after having three penalty claims denied, amid a 1-1 draw in which Toney scored.
The England striker, who was open to a Premier League return in January, called the officiating “crazy” as a win would have put them within two points of the league leaders – Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.
On Instagram, Toney showed the three penalty claims in video and said: “Twoof these actions went to VAR and one didn’t. It’s actually crazy how you can miss things like this in crucial moments or choose to turn a blind eye.”
Al Ahli said in a statement: “The Club Company expresses its deep dissatisfaction with the refereeing errors that affected today’s match…”The referee’s decisions had a direct impact on the flow of the game and its final outcome, which in turn affected the team’s position in the title race.
“Such errors raise legitimate concerns regarding the referee selection process and the criteria applied, particularly given the high technical and competitive level of the Saudi Roshn League.
“The team has faced unfair refereeing decisions, an unacceptable situation that neither serves the development of the competition nor upholds the principle of competitive fairness, which must be the foundation of any successful tournament.
“Al-Ahli Club Company calls for access to the recordings and communications between the referees and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), as well as their interactions with the team’s players during the match.
“It also requests clear explanations for all refereeing incidents where decisions were not correctly made.
“In closing, Al Ahli Club Company reaffirms its confidence in the commitment of the relevant authorities to safeguard the integrity of the competition and taking the necessary practical steps that reflect the high standing the Saudi Roshn League has reached.”
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