Saudi League drama, penalty awarded as player high fives ball in keeper’s hand

In a recent Saudi Pro League match between Al Hazm and Al Fateh, an unusual incident occurred where a player inadvertently caused a penalty while trying to high-five his goalkeeper.

Chirag

December 9, 2023

Player Concedes Penalty Over High Fiving The Ball In Keeper's Hand In Saudi Pro League — @DAZN

Football enthusiasts have criticized the Saudi Pro League following an incident where a player conceded a penalty while attempting to high-five his goalkeeper.

During the Al Hazm versus Al Fateh match at the Al Hazm Club Stadium, the home team emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline. However, the second goal had an unusual origin as Al Fateh defender Fahad Al Harbi inadvertently disrupted play while attempting to congratulate his keeper.

Al Harbi, in a jog back to celebrate, extended his hand for a high five, accidentally knocking the ball out of the keeper’s grasp. Consequently, the referee awarded a penalty without much choice.

“And y’all expect me to take this league seriously,” remarked one fan in response to a video clip of the incident, while another questioned the validity of the penalty.

Commentary on the match attendance revealed ongoing concerns as only 640 spectators were recorded in the 8,000-capacity Al-Hazm Club Stadium. Comparatively, some seventh-tier English football clubs draw larger crowds, highlighting the league’s attendance issues.

Furthermore, this attendance figure isn’t the lowest witnessed in the Saudi Pro League this season. A recent match between Al-Riyadh and Al-Hazm saw a mere 264 fans present in the 22,188-seater stadium. The league’s struggle with low turnout was evident in another Al-Riyadh fixture, which had just 133 attendees, indicating broader concerns about fan engagement in the league.