Moroccan forward Abderrazak Hamdallah, representing Al-Shabab, has once again captivated the atmosphere in the Roshn Saudi League through his remarkable performance marked by a goal scored and another controversially annulled. The events unfolded on Friday at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Abha, during the 23rd round of the competition, where Hamdallah found the net against Damac FC.
This particular goal represented Hamdallah’s tenth strike in the tenth match he has participated in for Al-Shabab across all tournaments since the beginning of the current season, including the Gulf Club Champions League. Such consistency underscores his pivotal role in the team’s attacking prowess.
Controversy Surrounding the Disallowed Goal
In addition to his opening goal, Hamdallah netted another attempt in the 42nd minute, which was subsequently invalidated by the match officials due to a foul committed prior to scoring. The referee also issued a yellow card to Hamdallah for this infringement. This decision sparked considerable debate among fans and analysts alike, with numerous voices condemning the ruling as unjust and insisting that the goal should have stood.
However, according to Saad Al-Kotairi, a refereeing analyst for the Saudi newspaper Al-Jazirah, the annulment was unequivocally justified. Al-Kotairi emphasized that the disallowance was the correct call, upheld after a positive intervention by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
He elaborated that Hamdallah had committed a handball offense on the head of a Damac defender just before scoring, which warranted both the cancellation of the goal and the caution for reckless conduct. This interpretation, offered by an expert in officiating, provides clarity amid the surrounding dispute.
Moreover, by netting against Damac, Hamdallah joined an exclusive group, becoming the first player to score against this team while representing three different clubs in the Roshn League, following in the footsteps of former Al-Hilal striker Odion Ighalo. This feat further cements Hamdallah’s standing in the league’s historical records.