Al-Duwaish Responds to Al-Nassr Club Points Dispute

Al-Nassr continues to navigate a series of legal and disciplinary challenges as the club pursues the Saudi Pro League title. These disputes range from appeals over player suspensions to a contentious decision by the Sports Arbitration Center regarding the awarding of league points.

A significant point of contention involves Al-Orouba Club, which saw three points awarded to Al-Nassr following a ruling by the Sports Arbitration Center. On May 26, 2025, Abdulaziz Al-Ruwaili, the Vice President of Al-Orouba Club, stated that the club maintained the validity of its legal position despite the decision.

Al-Ruwaili noted that both the Disciplinary and Appeals Committees had previously supported Al-Orouba’s stance. He claimed that the complaint filed by Al-Nassr was based on regulations that the committees had already confirmed were not violated. While Al-Ruwaili expressed regret that there was no further degree of appeal available after the Arbitration Center’s ruling, he confirmed that Al-Orouba would not withdraw from its scheduled match against Al-Taawoun.

Disciplinary Appeals and Player Suspensions

Beyond the points dispute, Al-Nassr has actively challenged disciplinary actions against its players. On February 25, 2025, the club appealed the suspension of striker Jhon Duran following a red card he received during a 3-2 home defeat to Al-Ettifaq.

Duran, who joined Al-Nassr from Aston Villa in January for £65 million, was dismissed in the 90th minute for touching Abdulelah Al-Malki on the head. Al-Nassr submitted a compilation of errors to the Saudi Football Federation regarding the performance of the Russian referee, Kirill Levnikov.

The club’s detailed analysis sent to the Saudi Pro League Disciplinary Commission included claims that a goal scored by Al-Ettifaq was offside and that a late penalty should have been awarded for a foul on Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhem. Al-Nassr argued that Duran’s conduct did not warrant a red card for shameful behaviour and sought to limit his suspension so he could participate in the away game at Al-Wehda.

Criticism of Officiating and VAR

The club’s friction with officiating has extended to public criticism from associated figures and opposing teams. Khaled Al-Duwaish recently criticized referees following a match between Al-Nassr and Al-Riyadh, specifically highlighting a perceived lack of support from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

This trend of officiating controversy is not limited to Al-Nassr’s own appeals. On February 7, 2026, Al-Ittihad Club issued a statement calling for a review of controversial refereeing decisions following their defeat to Al-Nassr.

League Standing and Strategic Growth

These disputes occur against a backdrop of massive investment in the Saudi Pro League. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has taken over four major clubs: Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli. This strategic move has focused on upgrading infrastructure, improving youth academies, and attracting global talent such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema.

The competitiveness of the league remains high. Al-Nassr recently closed the gap on league leaders Al-Hilal to three points following a victory over Al-Khaleej. This follows a period where Al-Nassr previously topped the Roshan League with a five-point lead over its competitors.

To maintain this momentum, Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus publicly requested additional senior reinforcements on February 6, 2026, to bolster the squad’s credentials for the title race.