Cristiano Ronaldo (Image Via Getty)
Ivan Toney did not hold back after Al-Ahli’s 1-1 draw against Al-Fayha. The England striker spoke openly and raised serious questions about how the Saudi Pro League title race is being handled.
He felt his team was denied three clear penalties in one match, and he made it clear this moment could change the title fight. Toney, who scored his 27th goal of the season in that game, said the timing of these decisions worried him the most. Al-Ahli are in a tight race with Al Hilal and Al Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo plays. With just a few matches left, every point matters, and Toney believes these calls could decide who wins the title.He said after the match, “When we tried to talk to the referee, he told us to focus on the AFC Champions League.
How can the referee say this? 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.” He also added, “Throughout the season, it was a clear penalty but now we get to crunch time and they change it.”
Ivan Toney questions refereeing decisions as Al-Ahli feel pressure in title race with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr
Ivan Toney did not directly name anyone, but his message was clear. When asked who benefits from these decisions, he said, “We know who. Who are we chasing?”Right now, Al-Nassr are ahead in the table, with Al-Hilal close behind and Al-Ahli trying to keep up.
Al-Nassr also have one extra game left to play, which gives them an edge in the final weeks.Later, Toney shared a longer message on Instagram. He wrote, “It’s actually crazy how you can miss things like this in crucial moments or choose to turn a blind eye. It’s clear what is being influenced here.”He also pointed out another moment that upset him. “Also with the referee telling us to concentrate on a different competition while VAR is going on is beyond me.”
Galeno and Al-Ahli react strongly as club demands answers over VAR and referee calls
Toney was not alone. His teammate Galeno also spoke out, and his words were even stronger.He wrote, “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.”The club itself has now stepped in. Al-Ahli called the decisions “unacceptable” and officially asked for clear answers. They also requested the audio recordings between match officials and VAR to understand what really happened during those key moments.At the center of all this is Cristiano Ronaldo, the biggest name in the league. Despite his global fame, he has not yet won a major trophy with Al-Nassr since joining the club. With seven matches left, the pressure is high, and every decision is now under the spotlight.
