The Saudi Arabian Football Federation was forced to exclude a Saudi referee from officiating the Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr match in the 2025 Saudi Super Cup final, because of Cristiano Ronaldo!
According to Saudi media reports, referee Mohammed Al-Huwaish was the most likely to officiate the Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr match, but the Referees Committee excluded him at the last minute due to his previous history with Ronaldo.
Al-Huwaish was the referee for the previous Super Cup semi-final between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, where he sent off Ronaldo, causing a number of controversial incidents. Therefore, the committee felt that his reappointment could create a crisis that all parties need.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation will appoint a local referee to officiate the Saudi Super Cup, whose identity has not yet been revealed. This is in accordance with regulations requiring a foreign referee to be requested before matches, a time limit that has already passed.
It’s worth noting that Ronaldo is seeking his first title with Al-Nassr after two years in which he won only the Arab Cup in a friendly. However, his task will be difficult against Al-Ahli, the AFC Champions League champions, who rained five goals down on Al-Qadisiyah in the semi-finals.
The match will be held next Saturday, at 3:00 PM Mecca time, at the Hong Kong Stadium.
