Al Hilal finds itself under scrutiny once again despite its position atop the Saudi Pro League table. Allegations of favorable treatment from referees continue to circle back, casting doubt on the team’s integrity. Following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ivan Rakitic is echoing similar sentiments after his domestic side, Al Shabab, recently lost a seven-goal thriller at the hands of Jorge Jesus’ side. 

The candid declaration came as there was a game-changing moment during the match that stirred a debate among soccer fans. In the first half, Rakitic was dribbling inside Al Hilal’s penalty box. But the Blues Waves’ defender Kalidou Koulibaly made a challenge at the former Seville man, causing him to trip badly. While hope glimmered among Rakitic and Al Shabab players for a penalty, the official instead waved his hands and pointed to a goal kick for Al Hilal.

Interestingly, this incident was shared by Al Shabab on Instagram with a succinct “🤷🏻‍♂️😅” caption. In fact, Rakitic also took the opportunity to take a subtle dig at the officials’ eyebrow-raising situation by commenting, “Nobody can understand….😅🤷‍♂️ we will work hard and never stop.!💪” It looks like not just Al Shabab, but even Rakitic was bemused by the decision to not give a penalty. Had the decision been made in favor of the home side, then the outcome of the match would have been different. 

Al Shabab lost 3-4, courtesy of a brace from striker Aleksander Mitrovic and goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Salem Aldawsari. The penalty would have seen the match end with both sides compromising on a draw. However, Al Hilal successfully managed to steal 3 points instead. While Rakitic may struggle to comprehend the referee’s decision, Cristiano Ronaldo might relate to the former Barcelona man. 

Cristiano Ronaldo laughed off the controversial referee decision favoring Al Hilal

Previously, after Al Hilal’s 1-3 victory against Al Riyadh, a referee made a controversial call. This prompted Cristiano Ronaldo to seemingly mock the decision by reacting with 9 laughing emojis under an Instagram video that showcased the entire scene. Speaking of the incident, Aleksandar Mitrovic attempted to strike the ball while running but missed it. However, it appeared that he was disrupted by an opposing defender approaching.

Both players ended up on the ground, with minimal, if any, contact. Yet, the referee deemed it a penalty. The amazement doesn’t stop there, as he also issued a yellow card to the defender. As star players continue to highlight such instances, questions arise regarding potential bias in refereeing within the Saudi Pro League, particularly concerning Al Hilal. If yes, then there is a clear need for improved officiating to maintain the integrity of the game. 

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