Officiating Scrutinized in Gulf Cup Semifinal

The recent Arabian Gulf Cup semifinal between Saudi Arabia and Qatar featured two controversial officiating decisions that sparked complaints during extra time. Players and staff from Saudi Arabia repeatedly appealed for handball penalties after apparent contact inside the box, but the referee declined both requests.

The decisions were reviewed by the VAR team and maintained on the field. A prominent refereeing analyst, Mohammed Kamal Risha, later supported the officials, stating that the contact with a defender's midriff did not warrant a penalty according to the rules.