Ivan Toney has launched a scathing attack on the integrity of officiating in the Saudi Pro League as one of his Al-Ahli team-mates suggested they are attempting to ‘hand the trophy’ to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Toney was among Al-Ahli players to hit out at refereeing decisions following Al-Ahli’s 1-1 draw against Al-Fayha on Wednesday.
The result leaves Al-Ahli in third position in the table, two points behind Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr side, who top the standings and have a game in hand.
Toney, who scored his 27th goal of the season in the draw, claimed his side were denied several penalties against Al-Fayha.
The England international alleged that when he and his Al-Ahli team-mates had attempted to talk to the referee, they were told to instead focus on the AFC Champions League.
‘I think the very big talking point was the two penalties, it is as clear as day,’ Toney said in a post-match interview. ‘I don’t know what more you want him to do, if you pick the ball up with two hands are you going to give a penalty or not?
‘When we tried to talk to the referee, he told us to ‘focus on the AFC [Champions League]. How can the referee say this? We are talking about now and he is saying to focus on the AFC.
‘If you want me to go deeper, I can go deeper, it might get me into trouble but I am a man that says it how it is. There are clear talking points with the referee, but his mind is elsewhere.
‘Throughout the season, it was a clear penalty but now we get to the crunch time and they change it.’
When asked who would benefit from the decisions, Toney laughed and replied: ‘We know who, who are we chasing?’ in a possible reference to Ronaldo.
Toney later doubled down on social media by sharing videos of three penalty appeals during the match and claimed ‘it is clear what is being influenced here’.
‘It’s actually crazy how you can miss things like this in crucial moments or chose to turn a blind eye. It’s clear what is being influenced here.
‘Also with the referee telling us to concentrate on a different competition while VAR is going on is beyond me.
‘Add to that with the referee agreeing that the first one was a penalty in the 90+ minute like that’s going to help.
‘I am probably the bad guy for speaking some truths and pointing out questionable decisions or s*** refereeing.’
Toney’s team-mate Galeno added to the controversy, alleging the Saudi Pro League wants to ‘hand the trophy to one person’.
‘Hand over the trophy, that’s what they want, they want to knock us out of the championship by any means necessary, they want to hand the trophy to one person, a total lack of respect for our club,’ he wrote on social media.
Both players were backed by Al-Ahli, who urged the league to release recordings between the officials and their players during the match and demanded explanations over the refereeing decisions.
‘Al Ahli club company expresses its deep dissatisfaction with the refereeing errors that affected today’s match of the first football team against Al Fayha in round 29 of the Saudi Roshn League,’ a club statement read. ‘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 safeguarding the integrity of the competition and taking the necessary practical steps that reflect the high standing the Saudi Roshn League has reached.’
Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are currently two points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League with seven matches remaining of their league campaign.
Should Al-Nassr go on to be crowned champions, it would be the first league title Ronaldo has won in four seasons at the club.
