Saudi Arabia bans Turkish referee Meler after controversial match

The Saudi Arabian Referees’ Committee has announced that Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler will no longer officiate matches in the Saudi Pro League.

The decision follows widespread criticism over his handling of the recent Al Shabab vs Al Hilal clash, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Al Hilal.

‘We will not call him again’

Manuel Navarro, the head of the Saudi Referees’ Committee, confirmed the decision in a statement, declaring:

We will not call Halil Umut Meler to officiate our matches again. He made errors that influenced the outcome of the Al Shabab vs Al Hilal game.

Meler’s decisions during the match, including controversial cards, have been a major talking point.

Pereira’s outburst against Meler

Al Shabab’s head coach, Vitor Pereira, was vocal in his criticism of Meler following the game.

“Halil Umut Meler had a huge impact on the match. The red card he showed us was wrong, as were several other decisions. He completely changed the flow of the game. I congratulate him for his performance in altering the result. I prefer Saudi referees for our matches,” Pereira stated.

Al Shabab files formal complaint

The controversy escalated when Al Shabab filed an official complaint against Meler, accusing him of affecting the result of the game. This complaint appears to have prompted the committee’s swift and decisive response.

Turning point in Saudi Pro League officiating?

This incident raises questions about the appointment of foreign referees in the Saudi Pro League.

With top clubs like Al Hilal and Al Shabab demanding higher standards, the league’s officiating decisions are likely to remain under scrutiny.