Demiral risks one-year ban after accusing referees of favoring Ronaldo's Al-Nassr

Key facts

• Al-Ahli lost 2-0 to Al-Nassr in Round 30 of the Roshn Saudi League.
• Merih Demiral displayed his AFC Champions League Elite medal after the match.
• Demiral accused referees of helping Al-Nassr win the league title.
• He faces a potential one-year suspension and a fine of up to 300,000 Saudi riyals.
• Al-Nassr filed a complaint with video evidence of Demiral's statements.
• Al-Ahli plans a counter-complaint against an Al-Nassr social media post.
• Demiral won back-to-back AFC Champions League titles with Al-Ahli.

Post-match chaos erupts in Riyadh derby

Tempers flared after Al-Ahli's 2-0 defeat to Al-Nassr on Wednesday, with Turkish defender Merih Demiral at the center of the storm. As the final whistle blew, Demiral engaged in heated verbal exchanges with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kingsley Coman before walking around the stadium displaying his AFC Champions League Elite medal. The trophy, which Al-Ahli secured earlier this month, served as a pointed reminder of the club's recent continental success. Demiral later took to social media to underline the provocation, posting: "For the first time, there is a Champions League medal in their stadium." The gesture was a calculated dig at Al-Nassr's lack of recent continental silverware despite their heavy investment in global superstars.

Demiral alleges systematic refereeing bias

The Turkish centre-back did not hide his frustration after the match, particularly over a challenge from Coman that he believed warranted a red card. Demiral displayed marks on his foot to illustrate the severity of the tackle, stating: "Check my foot, he almost broke it. It's a shame." He escalated his criticism to question the integrity of the league's officiating, suggesting a concerted effort to ensure Al-Nassr finishes on top. "It looks clear referees help Al Nassr, they want them to win. We always win games and nobody helps. We will remain on top," Demiral added, despite the blow to his team's title aspirations.

Legal consequences loom for Demiral

Demiral's statements have triggered a major legal crisis that could threaten his career in Saudi football. Legal consultant Riyadh Al-Zahrani clarified that the comments fall under provisions of abuse and questioning the integrity of the competition. Under the regulations of the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Demiral faces a potential sports suspension of up to one year and a financial fine of up to 300,000 Saudi riyals. The disciplinary committee is expected to review both his medal taunt and his officiating claims, with many anticipating heavy fines or suspensions following one of the most controversial matches of the season.

Clubs engage in mutual legal battle

The repercussions extend beyond Demiral, sparking a war of complaints between the two clubs. Al-Nassr officially moved to collect video clips of Demiral's statements to present as evidence before the disciplinary committee, considering them false accusations that harm the club's reputation. In response, Al-Ahli is preparing to file a counter-complaint against a post by Al-Nassr on the X platform, which Al-Ahli officials described as containing racist implications and inciting division. Both clubs are now awaiting official reports, with the disciplinary committee expected to issue decisions that could shape the remainder of the season.

Demiral's recent continental triumph adds context

Demiral's actions come against the backdrop of his own recent success. The Turkish international played a central role in Al-Ahli's AFC Champions League title victory earlier this month, securing a second consecutive continental crown. In the final against Japan's Machida Zelvia, held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Al-Ahli won 1-0 in extra time, with Firas Albirakan scoring the decisive goal in the 96th minute. Demiral started the final and remained on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, anchoring a disciplined defensive performance despite playing with ten men after Hawsawi's red card in the 68th minute. With this victory, Demiral became the first Turkish player to win back-to-back AFC Champions League titles.

Title race and disciplinary decisions ahead

These tensions come at a sensitive time in the season, as Al-Nassr is close to officially securing the Roshn League 2025/2026 title after their clean 2-0 victory. The match's outcome has significant implications for the league leadership, with Al-Nassr now in a commanding position. Observers believe that a one-year suspension for Demiral would be a devastating blow to Al-Ahli's defense next season. Saudi fans now await the decisions of the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee to resolve these issues that have cast a shadow over the sports atmosphere in the Kingdom, amidst assurances of the need to adhere to sportsmanship and refrain from questioning the integrity of refereeing.

The bottom line

• Merih Demiral faces a potential one-year ban and 300,000 riyal fine for accusing referees of bias.
• The post-match confrontation included Demiral parading his Champions League medal and clashing with Ronaldo and Coman.
• Al-Nassr filed a complaint with video evidence; Al-Ahli plans a counter-complaint over an alleged racist post.
• Demiral recently won his second consecutive AFC Champions League title with Al-Ahli.
• Al-Nassr's 2-0 victory puts them close to securing the Roshn League title.
• The disciplinary committee's decision will have major implications for both clubs and the league's integrity.